WRITTEN QUESTION E-2683/00

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: High-speed trains in the Roman orbital link area

At a time when work is about the begin on the construction sites in the area enclosed within Romp's main orbital link (G.R.A.) with a view to building the Rome to Naples high-speed line and laying a second track on the FM2 line, there are still many unresolved problems which have to do with the question whether entire districts of Rome will be bearable places to live in the future. In particular, the matter of the damage to be inflicted on the hundreds of people who will have to live cheek by jowl with the railway, on which about two hundred trains a day are expected to run at top speeds of 200 k.p.h., has to date been dealt with in a way giving rise to difficulties and discrimination.

The only official document enabling the damage resulting from the high-speed line to be quantified in advance is the memorandum of understanding between TAV and Latium Region, which lays down compensation in respect of buildings situated not more than 30 m from the outer track of the high-speed line. However, this memorandum applies only to the area lying outside the G.R.A. The area enclosed within the G.R.A., which ought to be covered by an agreement between TAV and the City of Rome, has been dealt with under a unilateral document called the Guidelines (drawn up by TAV), which provides for compensation for those whose homes border on the high-speed line and the corresponding construction sites.

The use of different methods has led to various instances of unequal treatment and discrimination, which have halved the number and size of the compensation payments.

Furthermore, there is no mention of environmental impact assessments or works to offset the damage.

1. Can the Commission say whether there are any directives imposing an obligation to harmonise memorandums of understanding of this kind?

2. Does it believe that consultations between citizens and the powers-that-be, or in this case citizens, TAV, and the city authorities, should in any event be held before the work commences?

3. What is the Commission's general view on the matter?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2000)

The Honourable Member is referring to the major infrastructure projects in the main orbital link are and more particularly the building of the high-speed Rome-Naples line and the doubling of railway line FM2 between Rome and Lunghezza. As far as the latter project is concerned the Honourable Member refers to two types of document providing for compensation of people living close by which are known, respectively, as an agreement protocol and as guidelines.

1. There are no Community Directives in existence that are intended to harmonise compensation for members of the public having suffered damage of this type.

2. This is a factor covered neither by Community law nor by the Commission's powers, but by national and local powers.

3. The Honourable Member is invited to refer to the answers given by the Commission to Written Questions E/578/98(1) from the Honourable Member and 2274/00 from Mr Tajani(2).

(1) OJ C 386, 17.12.1998.

(2) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001, p. 104.