WRITTEN QUESTION E-0318/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: Mining and exploitation of gold deposits on the Island of Milos

The company Midas Ltd. is planning to prospect for gold by drilling over an area of 17 760 000 m2 at Profitis Ilias, Chondro Vouno, Koumaria, Kalamavros and Ralaki in the municipality of Milos, a large part of which has been proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 programme.

Investments of this kind do not have a very positive track record internationally: a similar gold mining project at Pergamon in Turkey foundered owing to the resistance of the local population who even involved the European Parliament, and the artificial lakes of toxic waste which are the by-product of such investments pose a threat to the environment (for instance, the Doñana National Park in Spain). In the case of Milos the overwhelming majority of the social and professional bodies on the island are strongly opposed to the project and are calling for an immediate suspension of operations by Midas Ltd.

The use of cyanide in processing the gold ore and the highly toxic residues produced by investments of this kind constitute a threat to public health and the environment, the ground water and the entire region, and there is also a risk of marine pollution.

Given that the Greek Aegean islands are facing increasing water supply problems, and the Community has co-funded substantive infrastructures aimed at solving these problems and indeed shown particular concern by taking special measures;

Greece has been found by the European Court of Justice to be in breach of Article 7 of Directive 76/464/EEC(1) on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community and Directive 92/43/EEC(2) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora;

The environmental impact assessment has been rejected by the Prefectural Council of the Cyclades;

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to prevail upon the relevant Greek authorities to put an end to the above operations which on the one hand are in breach of Community environmental legislation and pose a threat to public health and on the other are clearly at odds with the EU policy on a European integrated coastal zone strategy?

(1) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976, p. 23.

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

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2000)

The areas of Profitis Ilias on the island of Milos, as well as the Western Coast of Milos, are included in the list of sites of Community importance proposed by Greece, by virtue of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. In view of the future inclusion of these sites in the Natura 2000 network, any activities which could seriously affect their conservation value should be avoided.

The project planned by the company Midas is included in Annex II of Council Directive 85/337/EC of 27 June 1985 as modified by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1). According to Article 4, Member States have the obligation to determine whether the project shall be the subject of an environmental assessment. The latter Directive is not yet transposed in Greece.

The Commission would like to thank the Honourable Member for the information given about the activities of this company. In order to investigate the issue, a letter will be sent to the Greek authorities requesting information.

Concerning the Court decisions mentioned, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that Directive 92/43/EEC has been transposed in Greece by ministerial decision number 33318/3028/1998. Concerning the Court decision dated 11 June 1998 about the failure of Greece to establish programmes including quality objectives for dangerous substances within List II 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, for the waters of the Gulf of Pagasai and those of Lake Vegoritis, the Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to the Greek authorities on the basis of Article 228 (ex-Article 171) of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.