WRITTEN QUESTION E-2622/99

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Construction work in the Bustarviejo valley (Spain)

A private company is planning to build a hotel in the Bustarviejo Valley (Community of Madrid, Spain), in the locality known as Tejera, the whole area of which is classified as a specially protected site where development is not permitted.

According to the mayor of Bustarviejo, the project, which is the fruit of a private initiative, has obtained the necessary permits from the regional environment and public works authorities and from the local council.

However, members of environmental and cultural associations, women's groups, and hunters' and farmers' associations have pointed out that no studies have been undertaken to assess the impact on local flora and fauna, many of which are protected species, and believe that the project would seriously damage both the landscape and the environment, since the water supply would have to come from the river or from a well. They argue that the extraction of 7 000 cubic metres of water each year would affect agriculture, stock farming and forestry and that the sewage produced by more than 100 persons would certainly pose a threat of pollution to the river running through the valley.

Bearing in mind that the Leader local action group in the Sierra Norte (Community of Madrid) would be contributing 16 million pesetas to the project, will the Commission say whether it complies with Directive 85/337/EC(1) on environmental impact assessment and Directive 92/43/EC(2) on natural habitats, and whether it is compatible with the objectives of the Leader programme?

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

(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2000)

The permit to build a youth hostel at the Sports and Nature Centre was granted to the developer Valle de los abedules S.L. by the communal authorities of Bustarviejo and is one of the prerequisites for the Galsinma local action group to be able to make a grant partly met from Community funds.

The Community aid is also dependent on the hostel receiving an operating permit imposing all requirements of the implementing legislation.

The national legislation on which the implementing legislation covering building and operating permits is based must take account of the Community Directives.

Among the requirements must be an obligation to meet the conditions set in the report drawn up by the Directorate-General for Environmental Respect and Safety, otherwise the permit should not be issued. It must be borne in mind that the village of Bustarviejo is very close (one or two kilometres) to Cuenca de Rio Lozoya y Sierra Norte, ES3110002 proposed by Spain as a site of Community interest in the Natura 2000 network pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

The information given by the Honourable Member and the claims of the environmental and other associations mentioned in her question do not enable the Commission to conclude that Council Directives 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment and 92/43/EEC have not been respected.