WRITTEN QUESTION E-3722/97 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (21 November 1997)

Subject: Law on environmental impact assessment in the Province of Bolzano, Italy

The Commission has had to call Italy to account on a number of occasions for failure to comply with the European Directive on environmental impact assessment in the law of the province of Bolzano. This dispute has still not been settled.

In the province attention is currently focused on the Bolzano provincial council's decision to carry out substantial rebuilding work on the airport of Bolzano, which until now has been used only for small private planes, in order to turn it into a regional airport handling scheduled flights linking Bolzano its catchment area with a number of important Italian and European cities and open it up to the profitable charter flight market, in view of the development of tourism, which is now extremely important for the economy of the whole region.

The council has decided not to carry out any kind of environmental impact assessment for this project, which has provoked protests from the local population. An appeal against this decision was upheld by the regional administrative court, but was subsequently suspended by the State Council in Rome. A second appeal was upheld by the administrative court, but was also rejected by the State Council.

Is it possible that the work needed to convert the small and little-used airport of Bolzano for the operation of scheduled flights need not be subjected to an environmental impact assessment, not least in view of the fact that it is located in the district of San Giacomo, which is densely populated?

Is it possible that the supporters of the project are unaware of the noise and pollution which would result if the project is completed?

Can the Commission clarify once and for all what provisions the law on environmental impact assessment in the province of Bolzano should contain to comply with European legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (16 January 1998)

On the basis of the elements provided by the Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, it appears that, in compliance with Community law and in particular with Directive 85/337/EEC ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (EIA), the proposed enlargement of Bolzano airport, which falls within Annex II of the directive, has been submitted to an impact study to verify the environmental consequences. On 17 January 1997, the 'Agenzia provinciale per la protezione dell'ambiente e la tutela del lavoro - Ufficio Valutazione Impatto ambientale' of the Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, relying on the above mentioned study, expressed its positive opinion on the project.

As for the failure of the general legislation on EIA in the Provincia Autonoma di Bolzanowith to comply with Community law, the Commission is currently pursuing infringement proceedings against Italy (Article 169 of the EC Treaty). Deficiencies addressed include lack of regulation for some kinds of project listed in the Annex II of the Directive 85/337/EEC and a lack of provisions regarding the supply of information to citizens.