WRITTEN QUESTION E-2288/01

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: compliance with EU directives, Structural Funds, irrigation policy and Community funding

In its reply to Question E-0003/01(1) on non-compliance with EU directives and the use of EU funds to finance projects under Spain's National Hydrological Plan (NHP), the Commission made the following statement: The Spanish authorities have presented a framework water-supply strategy with project selection criteria and an initial list of priority activities for each basin. Sets of projects for individual basins are now being examined by the Commission with a view to possible co-financing through the Cohesion Fund during the period 2000-2006 (). The Commission will ensure that the programmes it co-finances are implemented in accordance with current legislation and that all activities are consistent and compatible with Community policy, including environment policy. However, the Spanish Government is in the process of approving river basin hydrological plans which are not consistent with those policies and is also asking for funding to finance particular projects.

Will the Commission therefore answer the following questions:

1. Which projects and priority activities for each river basin have been selected by the Spanish Government with a view to obtaining EU funds?

2. Has the Spanish Government submitted the statutory reports which demonstrate compliance with the framework directives on water and on habitats and birds, as required under Community law?

3. If the Spanish authorities request individual funding for projects included in their country's National Hydrological Plan (thereby taking them out of the broader context which makes them meaningful), would the European Union agree to finance such projects?

4. How can the water-management strategy which has been integrated in accordance with the water framework directive guidelines and which forms part of the 2000-2006 Objective 1 Community Support Framework for Spain be combined with the water-diversion policy proposed under the National Hydrological Plan? Does the Commission not think that some form of cooperation could be brought about between the central government and some of the self-governing regions if structural measures financed by the EU were to be concentrated in the regions which provide backing for NHP projects?

5. Since the Spanish Government has announced a national irrigation plan which is to be very closely related to the NHP water-diversion strategy, how is the Commission planning to ensure that the irrigation policy will not lead to a non-rational use of water resources on account of the availability of diverted water? Does the Commission not think that it would be more logical to rationalise the use of existing water resources for agricultural purposes and reduce the misuse of water, rather than supporting a diversion policy?

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

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2001)

There are two main sources of Community funding for water supply projects in Spain: the Cohesion Fund and the Structural Funds. The point of departure is that all assisted projects, whether co-financed by the Union under the Cohesion Fund or the Structural Funds, must comply with Community legislation, including environmental requirements. In both cases, there is no obligation for the Commission to be informed of any relationship between individual projects and the existence of a national framework such as the Spanish National Hydrological Plan.

Under the Cohesion Fund, the Commission appraises and approves projects or groups of projects submitted by the Spanish authorities according to their individual merits and in conformity with the regulations in force. A number of such projects have been approved to-date. Information on such projects is published on a regular basis by the Commission. Some of the projects may be related to the National Hydrological Plan but it is only the Spanish authorities who can confirm this. The same applies to any project currently subject to appraisal by the Commission and for which final approval has yet to be given.

As far as the Structural funds are concerned, interventions are organised around broad strategic priorities set out in programming documents agreed between the national authorities and the Commission, and formally approved by the latter. The selection of individual projects for the realisation of the agreed strategy is the responsibility that is decentralised to the authorities on the ground in the Member States. The strategy for Spanish Objective 1 regions, the so-called Community Support Framework (CSF) 2000-2006, which was agreed in October 2000, contains a priority under the heading Environment, Natural Environment and Water Resources. This, together with more detailed operational programmes, provide the basis for the Spanish authorities to select projects for Community aid relating, for example, to water supply. The Commission is informed of the selected projects in the context of the monitoring system set up under the CSF. The Commission is also informed by the national authorities of any major projects ( 50 million or more) that are proposed for assistance under the programmes, and these in turn are subject to an appraisal by the former in conformity with the regulations in force before assistance is approved. In all cases, it is only the Spanish authorities who can confirm whether or not selected projects have been included in the National Hydrological Plan.