WRITTEN QUESTION E-3674/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 January 2002)

Subject: Waste water treatment plants

In its answer to my question No E-3646/00(1), the Commission states that almost none of the 40 urban areas in Greece which discharge their waste water into sensitive areas and should therefore have been provided with appropriate collecting and treatment systems by 31 December 1998 had, by that date, met the requirements of Directive 91/271/EEC(2).

The Commission:

1. Will it say how many areas in Greece experience problems associated with the presence and operation of waste water treatment plants? Which areas are they?

2. Have the competent Greek authorities submitted new requests for joint funding of works to resolve the problems produced in waste water treatment plants and, if so, does the Commission intend to approve those requests?

3. Does the Commission intend to initiate infringement proceedings against Greece in respect of all the urban areas which have not met the requirements of the above Directive?

(1) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 3.

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

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2002)

1. On 21 November 2001, the Commission adopted its second report on the Implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998(1), which is related to the deadline of 31 December 1998. It includes inputs from Member States up to 15 February 2001 and contains information on the identification of sensitive areas, on urban areas discharging their waste water into sensitive areas and on waste water treatment in cities.

In their first letter in June 2000, the Greek authorities indicated that 33 urban areas with a population equivalent of more than 10 000 are situated in the catchment area of a sensitive area and required tertiary treatment on 31 December 1998. In their second letter in January 2001, they specified that only 16 urban areas have to be taken into consideration. When the deadline of 31 December 1998 expired, only 4 of the 16 (33) cities were in conformity.

Detailed information on whether or not areas/cities are in compliance with the Directive will be published in the Commission's report on the implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC in due course (probably March 2002).

2. In 2001, the Greek authorities submitted a number of requests for Cohesion Fund cofinancing of waste water treatment plants, most of which have been the subject of a Commission Decision.

Similar projects on a smaller scale can be cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under regional programmes. These projects are not the subject of a specific application to the Commission but are managed nationally.

The Commission has agreed with the Greek authorities on checking the planning of environmental projects cofinanced under the two Funds in order to speed up the completion of those which are most urgent.

3. The Commission has already initiated three individual infringement procedures against Greece for failure to comply with Council Directive 91/271/EEC. These infringements concern the cities of Athens, Elefsina and Thessaloniki.

The Commission continues to follow the implementation process in all Member States, including Greece. It will take all necessary measures, including action under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, to ensure that the provisions of the Directive 91/271/EEC are applied.

(1) COM(2001) 685 final.