WRITTEN QUESTION E-3422/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (31 October 1997)

Subject: Community-funded roadworks on Lesbos

Work began on Lesbos a few months ago on asphalting the road linking Dipi, Papados and Plomari (from Skamina to Tarti, Tsafi and Ligounari) with a budget of Drs 547 610 190 - funding SAE 071/2 (Ministry of the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works).

However, asphalting the road from Skopelos to Tarti in the way it has been planned and is being carried out will be counterproductive in terms of developing tourism in Tarti and the surrounding region because no account has been taken of the inevitable effects of a project which will greatly increase the flow of tourists to a sensitive area with limited capacity such as Tarti.

Given that:

- various projects in coastal areas which received support under Community action plans provided for measures to help preserve and protect the quality of the natural environment,

- the 'development' of Tarti is producing significant changes which clearly depart from all EU environment protection guidelines, and

- the projet is receiving Community funding, will the Commission say:

1. whether an EIA has been carried out pursuant to Directive 85/337/EEC ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.)) and what the environmental implications of the project were,

2. whether it intends to ask for information and explanations from the Greek authorities as to how the 'development' of Tarti is consistent with the Commission's communication on the integrated management of coastal areas, and

3. whether it can provide assurances, in view of the fact that it is jointly funding the project, that it will intercede with the relevant authorities to ensure that an integrated approach is adopted to planning in the region and that additional measures are taken to promote the qualitative development of this extremely sensitive area?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf- Mathies on behalf of the Commission (5 January 1998)

According to the information available to the Commission, the project in question primarily involves the improvement of an existing minor regional road over a distance of 9.8 kilometres on the island of Lesbos. The project is indeed being part-financed as part of the operational programme for the northern Aegean under the Community Support Framework for Greece 1994-99.

This type of project (improving and asphalting dirt roads belonging to local road networks) is generally highly appreciated by the inhabitants of the Greek islands because the result is an improvement in the quality of life and a beneficial effect on the local economy.

An environmental impact assessment was carried out for this project according to the Greek legislation transposing Directive 85/337/EEC. This study, which constitutes the first study in the evaluation procedure, was also part-financed under the programme mentioned above (budget of DRA 5 million, approximately ECU 17 000).

According to Directive 85/337/EEC and the related Greek legislation, it is the job of the national authorities to analyse the impact of the project in the context of the environmental assessment procedure and to put forward any measures required to avoid, reduce or compensate for major negative effects.

The ministerial decision issued by the Minister for the Environment and Public Works in Greece authorising the project and finalising the assessment procedure usually contains such measures.

The Commission, having fixed the objectives and priorities of the operational programme in question in 1994, in partnership with the Greek authorities, is not making a systematic analysis of the impact of all the projects submitted within this framework, especially if an assessment has already been carried out in accordance with Community legislation; this would normally take into consideration all the environmental factors, including the impact on the coastal areas.