EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/95

(2004/C 78 E/0095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2236/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2003)

Subject: Disastrous environmental situation in Greece

According to a report published and compiled by the Greek National Environmental Centre on the so-called ‘sustainability indicators’, the level of unmonitored waste disposal is particularly high in Greece in comparison with other EU countries and amounts to 40 %, while the report describes the recovery of useful materials as very low.

With regard to reforestation, it has been calculated that in Greece each year areas of 10 000 to 130 000 hectares are burnt, of which scarcely 1 500 hectares are replanted (figures from 2000), whereas in 1990 4 500 hectares were replanted.

The report also points out that the use of water and fertilisers is increasing faster than the added value of the agricultural products produced, while only 1 % of the total land cultivated is farmed by organic growers.

With reference to water, the report stresses that excessive pumping from underground aquifers has doubled in comparison with 1990 and covers over 40 % of total demand, giving rise to concerns over the future adequacy of the water supply, particularly in view of the delays being experienced in Greece in the construction of infrastructure projects in the water sector.

What are the data on fires and the level of reforestation, and on levels of unmonitored waste disposal in the other EU countries? What is the proportion of organic growers in the other Member States of the Union? Is the Commission concerned, and what approaches has it made to the Greek authorities in respect of excessive pumping from underground aquifers in Greece and the deforestation of Greek forests, which has been particularly marked over the last 20 years in Greece?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

The Commission has long recognised the environmental importance of forests and the fact that they can be severely damaged by forest fires, particularly in Southern Europe.

Although the main responsibility for the co-ordination and implementation of forest policy is at the level of Member States, the Community has helped them in their efforts to fight against forest fires. A scheme to protect and monitor forests against fire was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 (1) and expired in 2002.

The Community continues its support to Member States against forest fires through the new Regulation ‘Forest Focus’ — still under discussion — and Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (2). These Regulations continue all the previous actions developed against forest fires, i.e. prevention measures in the field and monitoring activities.

The Joint Research Centre has released official figures for forest fires in Greece which show that, during the year 2001, the area burnt was below the average of recent decades and comparatively small, taking into account the large number of fires there. The 2002 figures are still being finalised but they are expected to show a similar decrease in the area burnt.

The Commission also has recognised the importance to increase the forest area through the support of afforestation measures. Under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 of 30 June 1992 (3), instituting a Community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture, Member States established one million hectares of forest with the financial support of the Community. In 1999 this measure was incorporated into Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.

The most recent Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) publication ‘State of the World's Forests’, published in March 2003, shows that the forest area of Europe is slowly but continuously increasing at an annual rate — calculated for the period 1990-2000 — of about +0,1 %. The rate for Greece is +0,9 %. There is no official evidence to suggest a reduction of the forest area in Greece.

Statistical data that show the share of organic farming areas in Europe, in total of UAA (Utilised Agricultural Area), are available in the annex.

With regard to waste, the Commission does not yet have sufficient information to allow a general overview of uncontrolled waste deposits in the Member States. However, on the basis of individual complaints and other information received by the Commission, infringement procedures were launched against a great number of Member States for non-respect of the Community legislation concerning its treatment.

With regard to the over-abstraction of groundwater, the existing Council Directive 80/68/EEC of 17 December 1979 on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances (4) does not deal with this issue, which will actually be regulated under Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (5). This Directive has to be implemented by the Member States by the end of 2003. Therefore, no infringement procedures have been launched.

(1) OJ L 217, 31.7.1992.

(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(3) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(4) OJ L 20, 26.1.1980.

(5) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.