WRITTEN QUESTION E-2709/99

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: La Punta agricultural area (Valencia, Spain)

The Valencian Ministry of Public Works, Urban Development and Transport is supporting a proposal for a logistics park (ZAL) for the port of Valencia at La Punta, an agricultural area on the edge of the city with exceptional features as a model of sustainable and efficient agriculture serving urban consumers, unique in the European Union. The environmental impact assessment for the project did not include consultation of the residents who would be affected or consider alternatives to the project, and therefore did not comply with Directives 85/337/EEC(1) and 97/11/EC(2) on environmental impact.

The plan justifies the failure to consider alternative locations on the grounds of poorly defined operational factors, the most important of which seems to be the need for logistical services to be very close to the port. However, there are locations which are even closer to the container terminal than La Punta, where the impact on the environment, the structure of production and agricultural labour, and on heritage would be markedly less than in La Punta. Furthermore, the ZAL plan does not analyse the possible impact on the neighbouring Albufera nature reserve, protected by Valencian legislation and also listed in several international conventions (Ramsar, special protection area for birds and Directive 92/43/EEC(3) on habitats).

The plan's environmental impact assessment recognises, for example, the risk that the ZAL's activities could result in pollution of the Valencian Plain aquifer, but does not examine in sufficient detail the possible effects on the nature reserve. The plan also acknowledges that as a result both of the waterproofing effect caused by the ground being tarmacked, and the closure of La Punta for various infrastructure projects to be carried out, the ZAL would create an increased risk of flooding caused by water collecting after heavy local rainfall. It therefore proposes a series of corrective measures in the area set aside for the planned industrial complex. However, it does not take into consideration the risk of flooding in the residential areas adjoining the ZAL, which would lose the drainage capacity currently provided by the agricultural area.

Does the Commission agree that the Spanish authorities have not complied with the directives on environmental impact assessments, particularly as regards the obligation to consult the persons affected and to consider alternative proposals? What measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the Albufera nature reserve is not adversely affected by the ZAL plan?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 140.

(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

The Commission was informed of some aspects of the situation described by the Honourable Member via petition No 749/94.

In the light of the new information the Honourable Member has provided, the Commission has taken the required steps to obtain all the details of the case and ensure that the relevant Directives are correctly applied.