WRITTEN QUESTION P-0154/02

by Roberto Bigliardo (UEN) to the Commission

(29 January 2002)

Subject: Environmental disaster in Caserta

Caserta is a city famous throughout Europe for the Reggia Vanvitelliana palace and its magnificent park which is thought to be the equal of Versailles, and which are now surrounded by what can only be called an environmental disaster.

This area, which must be considered part of both the European and the world artistic heritage, has for the past fifty years been the scene of unscrupulous speculation which has disfigured the landscape around the eighteenth-century Bourbon palace.

Caserta is surrounded by the Tifatini range of hills, an area of great historical and artistic importance which is also rich in flora and fauna.

The hills bear the scars of reckless quarrying (as many as 30 limestone and tufa quarries were opened in the Caserta area, 6 of which are still in operation).

The quarrying carried out in the area surrounding important historical sites such as the Reggia, the royal village of San Leucio, the medieval old town of Caserta and the monumental bridge over the Maddaloni valley has altered the landscape to such an extent that the area's natural environment and artistic heritage are at risk of being irreparably damaged.

While the removal of entire hillsides continues unchecked, the disused quarries now form a desolate moon landscape next to the Reggia Vanvitelliana, one of the most visited sites in Europe. How does the Commission intend to go about putting an end to the steady destruction of the landscape in this area? Would it not agree that it should have a study conducted into the feasibility of restoring a landscape which, thanks to the writings of Goethe, made the Bourbon site's reputation, to its former splendour?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

The questions raised by the Honourable Member have to be examined from two different angles: the possible opening of new quarries and the recovery of former quarrying areas.

Concerning new quarries, Council Directive 85/337/EEC(1) of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, modified by Council Directive 97/11/EC(2) of 3 March 1997, establishes that projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment, by virtue of their nature, size or location, are made subject of an assessment of their effects (environmental impact assessment (EIA)). Classes of projects covered by the directive are listed in the two annexes. Projects listed in Annex I require an EIA procedure. Under Article 4(2), projects of the classes listed in Annex II are made subject to an EIA, where Member States consider that their characteristics so require.

Some of the quarrying activities mentioned by the Honourable Member might also have a significant impact on a site proposed by Italy as a Site of Community Importance under Council Directive 92/43/EEC(3) of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, Monte Tifata. (IT8010016).

Under Article 6, paragraph 3, of Directive 92/43/EEC, with reference to the sites which, according to the procedure laid down by the Directive, will be listed as Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and which will be designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site's conservation objectives.

The above mentioned provision is not yet fully binding. The procedure mentioned, which provides that SCIs are chosen from a list of proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCI), and then designated as SACs, has not been concluded. The sites presently covered by the directive are still at the stage of proposed sites (pSCI). With reference to pSCIs, Member States have certain obligations to act in a way so as to ensure that the aims of the Directive are not jeopardised. In particular, they are advised to at least abstain from all activities that may cause a proposed site to deteriorate.

Should the Commission be informed that Community law is being breached in the specific case, it would not hesitate, as the guardian of the Treaty, to take all necessary measures, including infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to ensure the observance of relevant Community law.

Concerning the recovery of former quarrying areas, including eventual feasibility studies, the initiative has to come from the Member States, and launching a feasibility study is not within the competencies of the Commission. Such measures can be financed through Structural Funds, if they are provided for in the Regional Operational Plan. The LIFE financial instrument(4), and in particular LIFE-Nature, is dedicated to the implementation of the Natura 2000 network. For those quarries located inside a proposed Site of Community Importance, LIFE funds could therefore be used to restore the ecological value of the site.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 1655/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council, of 17 July 2000, concerning the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE), OJ L 192, 28.7.2000.