WRITTEN QUESTION E-0921/01

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Tourism-oriented property development in Bosa and Villanova Monteleone, Teulada, Monte Russu and Cala Giunco-Stagno Notteri, and a fish-farming plant in Bosa

In reply to my questions Nos E-3009/00(1), E-3339/00(2), E-3340/00(3) and P-3314/00(4) concerning tourism-oriented property development along the coast in Bosa and Villanova Monteleone, Teulada, Monte Russu (Aglientu) and Cala Giunco-Stagno Notteri (Villasimius) and an intensive fish-farming plant in Bosa, the Commission said that it would take the necessary steps to gather detailed information and ensure that Community law is complied with.

Could the Commission clarify what steps it has taken to date with regard to the above-mentioned cases?

In particular, could it confirm:

- with regard to the planned development in Monte Russu, that an assessment of implications has been begun, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC(5), and could it say whether the findings of this assessment are already available?

- with regard to the LIFE legislation, that the development has not yet received final construction authorisation, and could it say whether this means that, once authorisation has been obtained, it will be subject to an environmental impact assessment? Is any Community funding earmarked for the development?

- with regard to the proposed developments in Teulada and Cala Giunco-Stagno Notteri, whether any Community funding is earmarked? If so, does the Commission intend to freeze it pending confirmation that the developments comply with Community legislation concerning LIFE and the Natura 2000 network?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 156.

(2) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001, p. 140.

(3) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001, p. 141.

(4) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001, p. 133.

(5) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Supplementary answergiven by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

In reply to the Honourable Member's written question concerning four cases of alleged incorrect application in Sardinia (Italy) of Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation

of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive), Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1) and Directive 97/ 11/EC of 3 March 1997(2) amending Directive 85/337/EEC (building projects and aquaculture at Bosa and Villanova Monteleone, tourism and property development along the coast of Cala Giunco-Stagno Notteri, Villasimius, tourism-orientated property development on the Teulada coast, tourism-oriented property development on the Monte Russu coast, Aglientu), the Commission has launched four own-initiative investigations.

With regard to the tourism-orientated property development on the Monte Russu coast, the Commission has been unable to identify any breach of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats Directives. The project consists of a holiday resort in two parts, one above the Castelsardo Santa Teresa di Gallura road and the other one below that road. The area below the road is within the proposed Site of Community Importance (pSCI) ITB010006 Monte Russu, while the area above the road is outside the site (but next to it). The total capacity of the resort is approximately 2250 beds. An assessment of the impact on the site as required by the Habitats Directive was submitted by the proposer in September 2000 and an EIA was also requested by the regional authorities and submitted by the proposer in March 2001. The assessment of the impact on the site took into account all the habitats and species of Community importance listed in Annexes I and II to the Habitats Directive present on the site. These include some habitat types which, because their presence on the site is very limited and they are well represented on other sites in Sardinia, are not part of the site description in the official Natura 2000 forms. The planned mitigation measures effectively reduce the direct and indirect impact of the project on the habitats of Community importance present on the site. In conclusion, the assessment carried out in view of the site's conservation objectives was properly done and the project is not likely to have a significant impact on the Monte Russu pSCI.

The Commission will take the appropriate steps to ensure that Community law is observed in the cases in question.

The projects concerned are not being cofinanced by the Structural Funds.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.