WRITTEN QUESTION E-1231/00

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 April 2000)

Subject: Hydroelectricity production in the Ulla river basin (Galicia)

The Galician regional government, through its autonomous body Aguas de Galicia, is studying the application made by the electricity company Unión Fenasa S.A. for authorisation to exploit the entire Ulla river basin. The project submitted by the electricity company entails the construction of 12 dams which would seriously alter the natural features of the river basin, if authorisation is granted. In some cases, the linking of marshland areas could lead to the complete disappearance of large stretches of the river bed (dams 1, 2 and 3 on the river Ulla). In other cases, the project entails diverting the river bed through channels (dam 14 on the river Deza). The project is opposed by local people, who have submitted 5 000 complaints to Aguas de Galicia calling for it to be rejected.

The project poses a particularly serious problem for the following reasons:

1. At the same time as it was studying the application for hydroelectricity production (already at a fairly advanced stage), the Galician government's environmental department, by decision of 28 October 1999, designated the Ulla-Deza river system a natural area which should enjoy general protection with a view to its inclusion in the Natura 2000 network;

2. The river area is covered by the Leader-Protodemouras (I, II) programme, which receives Community funding with a view to enhancing the area's rural and ecological tourism potential. The destruction of this key natural site (which provided the justification for the investment under the Leader II Community initiative) would constitute fraud against the European Union;

3. The project also constitutes a serious threat to the area's historical and cultural heritage, in particular the site of the Romanesque monastery at Carboeiro, which is situated near the Way of St James;

4. From the point of view of energy production, the Ulla project is irrelevant for Galicia, where much larger hydroelectric power stations are already in operation.

Can the Commission take the necessary steps with a view to ensuring that the Spanish state and the Galician government prevent the destruction of the Ulla-Deza river basin and investigating the possible use of Community funds in financing the Unión Fenasa S.A. hydroelectricity project?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2000)

The Commission was not aware of the situation to which the Honourable Member refers.

The Ulla-Deza river system has been identified by the Spanish authorities as a site of Community importance for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.(1)

The Commission has asked the Spanish authorities for their observations in order to determine whether the project is likely to have a significant impact on the site in view of the objectives of the said Directive, in which case the provisions of Article 6 thereof must be applied.

In any event, as guardian of the Treaties the Commission will take the necessary measures to ensure that Community law is complied with in the case in question.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.