WRITTEN QUESTION E-2187/02

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 July 2002)

Subject: Creation of a national marine park in the region of Kimolos

According to a letter of protest from the committee of permanent residents of the island of Kimolos, a study has been carried out by the environmental organisation Mom on the creation of a national marine park, which will extend to cover the whole of the island of Poliegos and half of Kimolos, together with the sea for a distance of one nautical mile around these islands. The residents of the region contend that they do not threaten the seals or other animals in the area in any way. They believe that, on the pretext of environmental and ecological protection, sections of land are being seized and encroached upon and restrictive measures are being placed on sea regions and coastal areas of the islands, as has also been observed in the Zakynthos region.

In view of the above:

1. Does the Commission intend to investigate this protest and to request information on the desirability and necessity of creating a marine park of this kind in the above area?

2. Has a study being carried out, or are there any plans to carry one out, on how the animals living in this marine area may be protected without residents' property and land being taken, since the people's survival depends on these?

3. Are there plans for monitoring to be carried out or has it been carried out in other areas such as in the Gulf of Lagana in Zakynthos, to ensure that environmental protection restrictions are not imposed in an arbitrary manner from above, but take the residents' opinions into consideration and, in particular, are transparent with regard to the financial amounts received from the EU for the creation of such parks?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2002)

The need for the creation of a marine park in the area of Kimolos-Polyaigos has been based on several scientific studies about the population of the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus in Greece. The Ministry of Environment has thus included the area in the Natura 2000 list of Sites of Community Importance. The area remains in the Greek list in the last submission of 14 May 2002.

The Commission has assisted through a LIFE-Nature project to the preparation of a Specific Environmental Study (SES) for the area, which will form a basis for the management of the area and its designation as a national marine park. The project was undertaken by the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal (Mom) and co-funded by the Commission, with the support of the Greek authorities as part of the Greek National Strategy for the Mediterranean monk seal. Further monitoring of the monk seal population in the area of Kimolos-Polyaigos is taking place at present by Mom through another LIFE-Nature project. The monitoring of the seals is expected to add to the knowledge about their population in the two islands. The project also includes actions aimed at raising public awareness about one of the most important sites of monk seal found in Greece. Apart from these two projects, no other Community financial contributions have been made for the establishment and the operation of a marine park in the islands of Kimolos-Polyaigos.

The Specific Environmental Study (SES) was drafted according to the requirements of the Greek national law in place (frame-law on environment 1650/86) and they aim to implement in each area the most appropriate management status. In particular, for the area of Kimolos-Polyaigos the establishment of a national marine park has been proposed, further to consultation with national and local authorities and public presentations. It must be stressed that neither the content of the SES and the specific site protection status, nor the subsequent procedures necessary for their adoption and implementation under national law, are a matter of Community competence. It is up to the Member State to determine the best way to ensure that species of Community interest, such as the Mediterranean monk seal, and the corresponding Natura 2000 areas thaty host them are given sufficient protection.

The Commission is aware of the protest of Kimolos residents and the formulation of a Committee against the Creation of the National Maríne Park of Kimolos-Polyaigos, through letters that this Committee has sent last year. Responding to these letters, the Commission has advocated the need for developing a dialogue and collaboration between all local forces (both the residents and fishermen and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the Kimolos-Polyaigos islands). The Commission believes that dialogue can build fruitful relations that will help to alleviate the pressure and will assist in resolving any conflict. In a recent letter addressed to the Kimolos residents, the development of dialogue between the Committee against the Creation of the Maríne Park with the Greek authorities and with the environmental NGO Mom has been suggested, so that a solution can be found to unresolved problems concerning the management practices proposed.