WRITTEN QUESTION E-0831/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 March 2001)

Subject: Toxic waste in the port of Patras

A shipment of 100 tonnes of hazardous and toxic liquid waste produced by the Greek arms industry was stopped on 23 January 2001 at the port of Patras because the port commission and the Central Port Authority of Patras rightly refused to allow the loading of such a dangerous cargo owing to the lack of facilities required for that particular operation.

The toxic waste was bound for a disposal plant in Germany by way of Italy, though at present where it is stored remains a mystery.

In view of the fact that:

- according to reliable information, shipments of toxic waste have been effected in the past without observance of the applicable legal provisions and safeguards,

- the port of Patras does not have adequate facilities for handling toxic waste and there are, therefore, inherent public health and environmental hazards in any attempt to load such material,

- Commission Decision 94/774/EC(1), concerning the supervision and control of shipments within the Community, requires the use of a standard consignment note for the notification and tracking of shipments of waste, as provided by Regulation (EEC) 259/93(2),

- Greece is in breach of Community legislation on the disposal and management of waste,

will the Commission say:

1. where the hazardous waste is stored in Greece;

2. where it is recycled (the Greek authorities claimed to have recycled 95 760 tonnes in Greece despite having no waste reprocessing plants);

3. how many shipments of such cargos have taken place, during which periods and in what quantities, and whether Community provisions are observed in relation to those shipments; and

4. what steps it will take to deal effectively with the current situation arising from the presence of toxic waste in the port of Patras and to avoid any similar occurrence in the future?

(1) OJ L 310, 3.12.1994, p. 70.

(2) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2001)

From the information provided by the Honourable Member it would appear that the shipment from Greece to Germany (via Italy) of the waste in question has not taken place as it was prevented from leaving the port of Patras due to the lack of facilities for the operation. In view of this, it would not appear that Council Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 of 1 February 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the Community(1) is material at this stage.

As far as the storage of the liquid toxic waste is concerned, the Commission has no information as to its whereabouts or management, as under the Community system of waste management, there is no obligation to inform the Commission of all particular incidents.

It is the role of Member States to ensure a correct implementation of their Community Law obligations in particular pertaining to the environmentally sound management of their waste, as prescribed notably under the Directive on Waste, Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 amending Directive 75/442/EEC on waste(2).

If it transpires that Greece has failed to comply with this obligation (and to establish this, more information and evidence would be required), it is open to the Honourable Member or to any other person concerned to file a complaint with the Commission.

(1) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993.

(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.