EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/706

(2004/C 84 E/0792)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3201/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(4 November 2002)

Subject: Spanish National Hydrological Plan: Júcar-Vinalopó interbasin diversion

The decision to divert water from the Júcar basin to the Vinalopó basin in the Alicantí-Marína Baja area (Alicante) was adopted on 29 August 1998 and now forms part of Annex 2 to the Spanish National Hydrological Plan. Under this project, 80 hm3 of water would be diverted each year, with 55 hm3 being used for crop irrigation to achieve the official objective of aquifer regeneration. The water would be diverted between different basins within the same administrative area.

According to local environmental experts, the project proposal overestimates the actual volume of water that the Júcar can provide, which is a sign either of ignorance of the river's hydrology or of incorrect data. It fails to take into account the hydrological records for 1994-1995, which showed a diversion to be impossible, especially if the flow rate decreases in line with climate change forecasts.

The experts consider the environmental impact study on the diversion to be inaccurate and incomplete. The study does not cover the economic impact on irrigated areas or on the fertile Júcar plain. Neither does it mention the Roman and Bronze Age remains that will be put in jeopardy. Only part of this study was made public, in contravention of Directive 90/313/EEC (1) on freedom of access to information on the environment.

If the Commission is considering a request for cofinancing for this project, could it indicate whether it has received a report from the Spanish Government on the way that the project will affect the Natura 2000 network? Is the Commission aware that the project affects at least six sites of Community importance in the Autonomous Community of Valencia? Does the Commission consider these effects to be compatible with possible European financing of this project?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2002)

The decision to divert water from the Júcar basin to the Vinalopó basin in the Autonomous Community of Valencia in Spain has been the subject of several written questions from the Honourable Member.

In its answers to these written questions, the Commission has had the opportunity to inform the Honourable Member of the steps which it has taken as part of an investigation of a complaint received about this project and its possible impact on the environment.

The Honourable Member should refer to the answer which the Commission gave to her written questions E-1549/02 and E-1550/02 (2) on this subject. In any case, it should be noted that the investigation is still open in order to examine the latest information provided by the complainants and to check that the applicable Community environment legislation is being respected in this individual case.

With regard to the possible Community funding of this project, the Honourable Member should refer to the recent answer to her oral question H-0678/02 during question time at Parliament's October 2002 (3) part-session which was also on this subject.

(1) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, p. 56.

(2) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 176.

(3) Written answer of 22.10.2002.