WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE), Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE),María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) and Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL)to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Spain's National Hydrological Plan: river basin management plans, pressure and impact analysis and Community funding

In its reply to Question E-0003/01(1) of 6 April 2001 the Commission stated the following in connection with the information supplied by the Spanish Government concerning Spain's National Hydrological Plan: The Plan encompasses the analyses and elements related to the different river basins, but it also constitutes a global framework for national water policies and actions which goes beyond the meaning of River Basin Management of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy(2).

With regard to the latter Directive, the implementation of the Plan should comply with the following mandatory obligations:

(a) the elaboration of detailed river basin management plans for each entire individual river basin in Spain by 2009,

(b) the elaboration of an analysis of pressures and impacts including an economic analysis by 2004.

Has the Spanish Government therefore submitted the river basin management plans and an analysis of pressures and impacts, including the relevant economic analysis?

If the Spanish Government has not complied with these requirements, will the EU providing funding for the projects contained in the National Hydrological Plan, including the projects designed to increase the size of the Yesa, Santaliestra and Biscarrués reservoirs?

(1) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 27.

(2) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2001)

The Spanish authorities have sent the Commission their management plans for river basins (planes hidrológicos de cuenca) under the infringement procedure relating to the implementation of Council Directive 76/464/EEC of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community(1). The plans were adopted by the Spanish Government in 1998, as a result of developments announced in the the Spanish Water Management Law 29/1985.

The Commission would point out that, as mentioned in the answer to written question E-0003/01(2), the river basin management provisions of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy(3) are not yet applicable in the Member States.

Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 of 16 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund(4) and Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(5), any project granted part-financing must comply with Community legislation, including environmental provisions. The Commission will examine in the light of this rule each individual project under Spain's national hydrological plan put forward for part-financing.

It is perhaps worth pointing out that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, both the plan itself and the choice of projects put forward for Community part-financing are matters for the Spanish authorities.

(1) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976.

(2) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 27.

(3) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(4) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994.

(5) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.