WRITTEN QUESTION E-1852/02

by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 June 2002)

Subject: Pollution of the Segura river (Murcia, Spain)

The pollution of the river Segura (Murcia, Spain) is a problem of serious proportions, which is only slowly and gradually being dealt with by the authorities concerned in the autonomous regions of Murcia and Valencia.

A report drawn up in 2001 by the Spanish Ombudsman, to be submitted to the Congress of Deputies on 17 June 2002, draws attention to the deterioration and pollution of the Segura and takes the view that the action taken on the matter by the regional and national authorities (the Segura Hydrographic Confederation) has not been effective.

In addition, a lawsuit is currently before the courts in Murcia and Orihuela, relating to charges of ongoing environmental crime. The charges in question relate to the dumping of waste into the Segura, and identify, as the worst polluters, the municipalities of the Murcia region through whose territory the Segura flows.

Among the nine defendants are the chief administrator of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation and the Commissioner for Water. It is stated in the charge against them that they have failed to fulfil their legal obligation to preserve the quality of the Segura river and of the water used for irrigation; this water, according to the depositions of numerous experts involved in the case, is causing damage to the environment and to human health.

1. Is the Commission aware of these circumstances?

2. What action does it intend to take to investigate the above charges?

3. Does the Commission not believe that the regional and national authorities concerned must be asked, as a matter of urgency, to propose immediate and comprehensive measures with a view to ensuring respect for the EU legislation concerning the right of all citizens to a healthy environment?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2002)

1. The Commission is not aware of the facts referred to by the Honourable Member concerning the judicial action currently before the Spanish courts relating to the pollution of the river Segura.

2. The Commission does not have any power as regards penal law and therefore cannot act to shed light on the alleged environmental offences to which the Honourable Member refers. The Community is therefore not responsible for this matter, but it can be dealt with through the national courts. It is clear from the Written Question that the Spanish judicial authorities are aware of the facts of this case.

3. However, the Commission is aware of the problem posed by the river Segura in the provinces of Murcia and Alicante. The Spanish authorities have sent the Commission their Environmental Recovery Plan for the Segura basin drawn up by the Ministry of the Environment and the Autonomous Communities of Murcia and Valencia, which involves the construction of sewage treatment plants, agreements between the authorities and industry, administrative controls and penalties and very major investment.

The above plan is currently being implemented in the various fields concerned. Six new waste treatment plants started operating at the beginning of 2002 to improve the environmental health situation in the river Segura basin, in particular in the central and lower parts of the river.