WRITTEN QUESTION E-1520/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Community assistance to a project in Houthalen-Helchteren

The Commission is considering providing 60 million francs in subsidies for the development of a wildlife park on the Kelchterhoef estate in Houthalen-Helchteren in the Province of Limburg. The Flemish Tourism Organisation is proposing to invest a further 50 million francs in the project. The project has been proposed by the municipal authority of Houthalen-Helchteren and a Dutch project developer.

The establishment of the wildlife park contravenes the current Regional Zoning Plan for Flanders, which has the force of law. The permit to deforest an area of 50 hectares will damage a valuable area of woodland and countryside which links two nature reserves.

Moreover, in granting planning permission the Minister for Regional Planning deliberately ignored the provisions implementing the Nature Conservancy Decree, which were approved by the Flemish Government at the beginning of September 1999 and published in the Belgian Bulletin of Acts and Decrees on 11 December 1999. One of the most important provisions was that any damage to woodland and/or the countryside must in future be compensated.

1. Will the Commission withdraw its financial support for this project on the grounds that the establishment of the wildlife park contravenes the Regional Zoning Plan for Flanders? If not, why not, and on what grounds does the Commission intend to subsidise a project which conflicts with the green objectives of the Regional Zoning Plan for Flanders?

2. Will the Commission withdraw its financial support for this project on the grounds that, in granting planning permission, the provisions implementing the Nature Conservancy Decree were deliberately ignored? If not, why not, and on what grounds does the Commission intend to subsidise a project which conflicts with the provisions of the Nature Conservancy Decree?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Under the Objective 2 programme for Belgian Limburg (1997-99 programming period) European Regional Development Fund assistance was granted for a wildlife and automobile park project at Kelchterhoef in the municipality of Houthalen-Helchteren.

The project was approved by the programme steering committee on 27 January 1999. The total cost of the public infrastructure is estimated at BEF 188 million (about 4,66 million) and the Community contribution is BEF 58,6 million (about 1,45 million).

In general the Commission participates in the Objective 2 monitoring committees where questions of strategy and partnership are discussed. Project selection is, however, by a steering committee of local partners.

In the present case the Commission has determined from the summary records of the various steering committee meetings that the project was approved subject to certain conditions, including the obtaining of building and woodland clearance permits.

According to information received from the regional authorities at the end of 1999, a building permit meeting all the requirements was in fact issued and the contract formally awarded before that date. The Commission has no information on the woodland clearance permit.

Obviously any change affecting compliance with the conditions imposed, e.g. cancellation or withdrawal of the building or woodland clearance permits, would have implications for the Community contribution to the programme, which will terminate in its entirety on 31 December 2001.

Although it is the responsibility of the competent authorities to see that the rules applying at regional level to development planning and nature protection are observed, the Commission will approach the Belgian authorities in order to clarify the matters raised by the Honourable Member.