WRITTEN QUESTION E-0182/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Continuing violation of the Seveso Directive and Directive 91/271 in the Thriasian Plain

Despite the commitments undertaken by the Greek authorities during a visit made by Members of the European Parliament to the Thriasian Plain in October 1995 that compliance with the Seveso directive would finally be monitored, the emergency plan has not yet been completed, nor have local inhabitants been informed. Directive 91/271(1) is also still being violated, since toxic waste is still being buried without any protective measures being taken, the tanneries dump their waste untreated and, despite the fact that the water of the Gulf of Elefsina is affected by eutrophication, private undertakings use dispersal agents to dissolve oil slicks.

Will the Commission say whether, as a follow-up to the examination of Petitions 413/92 (Directive 91/271) and 411/89 (Seveso Directive) which were discussed at many meetings of the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions in the official presence of the Commission, it is aware of continuing failure to implement Community legislation in the environmentally-polluted region of the Thriasian Plain, and what measures it intends to take in order fully to implement the Community directives that have been violated?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 1999)

While examining petitions Nos 413/92 (pollution on the Thriassian plain) and 411/89 (accident taking place within the Petrola company) the Commission contacted the Greek authorities on 12 October 1998 and asked for information on the updating of the emergency plan adopted by Petrola in 1995, in accordance with Articles 5(3) and 8 of Council Directive 82/501/EEC of 24 June 1982 on the major accident hazards of certain industrial activities(2) (Seveso).

In reply to that letter the Greek authorities informed the Commission (by means of a letter of 8 February 1999) of the approval, in the spring of 1998, of a new report concerning safety conditions within the Petrola company. They also stressed the success of the one-day public awareness campaign conducted by the company in July 1998. The new brochure prepared on this matter was appended to the notification.

Moreover, the Greek authorities have announced the implementation, in January 1999, of an emergency plan for the entire Thriassian-plain region. That plan provides for the setting up of an operational centre to manage accidents in the region, which apparently also began to operate in January 1999. According to the information received two major exercises will take place in the spring of 1999 in order to check the effectiveness of the new system and the extent of public information.

In view of the importance of introducing an effective, full emergency plan the Commission will again contact the Greek authorities in order to receive more information on the functioning of the new plan.

Article 13 of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment(3) contains provisions concerning discharges into recipient waters solely of biodegradable industrial waste waters produced by the agri-foodstuffs industry. The nature and type of treatment of these biodegradable wastes are indeed close to those for urban waste waters, which explains why such wastes are governed by this Directive. However, the Directive makes no provision for the discharge of other industrial wastes into the recipient waters, such as the tannery wastes referred to by the Honourable Member.

Article 11 of the Directive also covers discharges of industrial waste waters into the collection systems and reclamation works for residual waste water. It stipulates, in particular, that such waste must be covered by prior regulations or specific authorisations by the competent authorities or appropriate bodies. Those regulations or authorisations must, in particular, ensure that the industrial discharges in question receive the prior treatment required in order to protect the health of the staff working within urban systems, to avoid damaging the collection networks and any impairment of the operation of the urban water reclamation works and of the quality of the effluent-treatment sludges, and finally in order to protect the waters receiving the outfall from urban water reclamation works.

The Commission will ask the authorities for information concerning (a) the prior treatment of waste waters from companies in the Thrias region and (b) any authorisations granted to these in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 91/271/EEC.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40.

(2) OJ L 230, 5.8.1982.

(3) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.