WRITTEN QUESTION E-1307/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 May 2002)

Subject: Fuel storage tank installations at Vasova estuary

48 tanks for the storage and transit of petroleum products are to be installed at the Vasova estuary in the prefecture of Kavala. The addition of the new storage tanks to the existing 16 will create a fresh source of pollution for the population and the ecosystem, contaminating the Kavala region with permanent and periodic emissions of aromatic hydrocarbons from the tanks and the unloading of oil-tankers, together with the inevitable discharges of petroleum products into soil and sea. Moreover, the accumulation of fuel storage facilities in a confined area, the underwater piping and the moorings with the resultant congestion caused by oil-tankers in the area will increase the probability of an accident. Furthermore, owing to its size, the proposed gas-fired thermoelectric plant with a generating capacity of 440 MW will cause significant thermal pollution to air and sea.

In view of the fact that:

- the proposed site for the extension of the installations (the Vasova estuary) borders on a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention and a national park,

- the existing fuel storage facilities are often close to refuse tips which are susceptible to fire,

- the EU Seveso II Directive, which is a national law (KYA 5697/509 Article 12), requires the competent authorities to ensure that their regional planning takes account of the objectives of preventing major accidents and limiting their consequences when drawing up plans for land use,

- the project is in breach of the Barcelona Convention, to which Greece is a contracting party, and in particular the Protocol concerning protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources,

- according to a study carried out by the Technical Chamber of Eastern Macedonia, minor and major accidents are certain, inevitable and irreversible,

- according to the Peramo Institute of Fisheries, the Gulf of Kavala is environmentally overloaded,

- the installation of the tanks in this specific area will affect tourism and a number of jobs directly dependent on tourism and the sea,

will the Commission say whether an environmental impact assessment has been drawn up for the area, whether a risk assessment has been made in regard to the movement of oil-tankers, and to what extent the investment in projects in the prefecture of Kavala (underwater geological storage facility for 500 million Nm3 of natural gas, a combined heat and power plant with a generating capacity of least 75 MW, a ship repair yard, a cement factory directly on the Vasova estuary etc.) is consistent with Community environment law? Can the Commission intercede with the Greek authorities within its sphere of responsibilities to ensure that there is rational management of the protected area?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2002)

The Vasova lagoon is part of the Nestos Delta and Keramoti lagoons proposed by Greece under code GR 1150010 as a site of Community importance under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(1).

If the site is to be part of the European Natura 2000 ecological network, the Greek authorities must ensure that activities conducted there do not entail its deterioration, in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive.

Apart from Directive 92/43/EEC, the issues raised by the Honourable Member might also involve infringement of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the impact of certain public and private projects on the environment(2), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997(3), and of Council Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances(4).

The European Commission will make enquiries to ascertain whether the reported plans are incompatible with the above Community provisions and, if necessary, it will take appropriate measures to ensure compliance with Community environmental law.

The Commission would at the same time ask the Honourable Member to forward all the information at his disposal in order to facilitate its investigation.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(4) OJ L 10, 14.1.1997.