WRITTEN QUESTION E-2394/00

by Luckas Vander Taelen (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 July 2000)

Subject: Environmental impact of the 2004 Olympic Games infrastructure development in Athens

The infrastructure plans for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens are the source of many criticisms due to their environmental impact. Examples are the indoor table tennis stadium in the Veikou Park, which violates a protected forest area; the olympic village damaging the National Park of Parnitha; the rowing and canoeing centre affecting the Schinias wetland area.

Schinias, for example, has been included in the scientific list of proposed Natura 2000 sites (code GR3000003). Moreover, as 50 bird species included in Annex I of the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC(1) have been identified in the area, this has been classified as an Important Bird Area. The infrastructure project proposed in the area would affect three priority habitats (Posidonia beds, wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster, Mediterranean temporary ponds) as classified by the Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC(2). The impact on the cultural environment is also seriously worrying: the historical battle of 490 BC between the Athenian-Platean armies and the Persians took place at the great plain of Marathon, where Schinias is located. The Greek Ministry of Culture has already expressed its disagreement with the construction of the complex at Schinias.

According to the existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the construction of the rowing and canoeing centre would even have positive effects on the natural environment. However, four major Greek environmental organisations are contesting this statement and claiming that their criticisms have not been taken into consideration. The EIA study fails also to examine alternative locations, although they exist.

1. What action does the Commission plan to take in order to ensure that infrastructure development relating to the 2004 Olympic Games does not contribute to the further degradation of the environmental and cultural heritage?

2. Can the Commission say whether EU funding is involved in the projects for the rowing and canoeing centre at Schinias, the indoor table tennis stadium in the Veikou Park and the olympic village?

3. Has the Commission financed the conservation of the Natura 2000 Schinias site?

4. What measures does the Commission intend to take in order to preserve the Schinias site from irreversible degradation?

5. Can the Commission verify whether the EIA of the rowing and canoeing centre has respected the provisions of the EIA Directive 97/11/EC(3), especially with regard to public consultation and assessment of alternative locations?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

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

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

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2000)

The Commission has no competence concerning the organisation of the Olympic games. However, the large infrastructure works intended for the games and other works indirectly linked to them need to go through the appropriate procedures foreseen in environmental legislation. In this context, Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1) as modified by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997, should be taken into consideration.

As regards the specific projects mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission has received complaints concerning the tennis courts in the Veikou Park, the Olympic village near the National park of Parnitha and the rowing and canoeing centre in Schinias. In particular, as far as the rowing and canoeing centre in Schinias is concerned, the area of Schinias was included in the scientific inventory of sites eligible for the Natura 2000 network prepared by the Hellenic authorities through LIFE-Nature funding. Furthermore, the Schinias marshes have been identified as an important bird area in the recently published revised list of Birdlife international. Taking the conservation value of the site into account, the Commission already sent a letter to Greece requesting information about the measures taken in order to ensure its protection.

In the framework of the operational programme for the environment for the period 1994-1999, the Commission has co-financed (75 %) a project relating to the protection of Schinias for a global amount of 147 000. No Community funding is involved for other projects.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.