WRITTEN QUESTION E-3095/00

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(4 October 2000)

Subject: Expansion of Manises airport in Valencia (Spain)

The Spanish Airports and Air Navigation agency (AENA) has finalised a master plan under which the airport at Valencia would be expanded, with a view to tripling its existing operating capacity. This expansion, which will allow for as many as 100 flights to be handled every hour, will also triple the current noise pollution level at the airport, which is located in the vicinity of the municipalities of Manises and Quart de Poblet. Furthermore, it could have other harmful effects on the environment, including soil erosion and deterioration, gas emissions, and an increased incidence of sewage and dumping.

In accordance with the provisions of Directive 85/337/EEC(1) (as amended by Directive 97/11/EC(2)) on the assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment, the nature of the planned work is such that an environmental impact assessment must be carried out, in line with Annex I of the aforementioned Directive, which refers to airports with a runway length of 2 100 m or more. However, the master plan submitted by AENA contains no more than a brief paragraph entitled Study of the impact

of the airport on the surrounding area, which is merely descriptive and does not furnish the list of information required of the developer under Article 5(3) of the Directive. Furthermore, the master plan fails to consider the selection criteria set out in Annex III of the Directive. Besides neglecting to detail the adverse effects that the future airport will have on the neighbouring communities in terms of noise pollution and environmental pollution, the master plan even goes as far as to admit that a thorough environmental study into gas emissions will be required. That study has not been conducted, nor has a date for it been set.

In addition, in accordance with Article 6(1) and Article 6(2) of the environmental impact Directive, the developer is obliged to enter into a period of consultation with the authorities and public concerned within a reasonable time. AENA has ignored this rule as well. It published the written material and plan in early August, thereby giving the municipal authorities and others concerned a mere 30 days (coinciding with an office closing period) in which to study them and submit statements thereon.

The ICAO is due to meet in the near future to review and toughen up its noise standards, which will become binding in 2002, whilst in its communication 99/640 the Commission stated its intention to introduce Community legislation to combat noise pollution.

In view of these aspects, does the Commission not take the view that, in respect of Directive 85/337/EEC, the plan to expand Manises airport has clearly breached the rules governing environmental impact assessment?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2000)

The Honourable Member has drawn the Commission's attention to the impact on the environment of the master plan for extending Valencia Airport, and, in this instance, to the possible improper implementation 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.

It must be noted that Directive 85/337/EEC was amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997. However, under Article 3(2) of Directive 97/11/EC the provisions of the unamended version of Directive 85/337/EEC shall apply to any request for authorisation submitted before 14 March 1999.

It should in any case be noted that, neither in its previous, nor in its present, version following amendment does Directive 85/337/EEC provide for any application to plans which do not constitute an authorisation as such conferring the right on the prime customer to implement a project as defined by the Directive.

In this instance the master plan at issue does not therefore seem to be covered by Directive 85/337/EEC.