WRITTEN QUESTION P-3610/00

by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(15 November 2000)

Subject: Tourist infrastructure in Valsesia and on Monterosa

Talks currently under way between the authorities of the Piedmont region and the autonomous region of the Valle d'Aosta should soon lead to the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding on the construction of a cableway between Valsesia and the Valle di Gressoney aimed at stepping up tourism and skiing in the two valleys.

The project, which is apparently to be financed by Finpiemonte and the European Union, involves the total overhaul of the facilities at Alagna Valsesia and the construction of a new transport link to the Punta Indren glacier, described as a servizio di trasporto pubblico in concessione (concessionary public transport service), to be built by Monterosa 2000 S.p.A.

The Upper Valsesia, the southern glaciers on Monterosa and the Valle d'Aosta glacier area have been designated sites of Community importance pursuant to Directive 92/43(1).

The above project poses a potential threat to the collection of Natura 2000 sites around Monterosa, both from an environmental and landscape viewpoint and in terms of road and town-planning requirements.

Among other things, the project:

- makes no provision for parking facilities or road improvements, despite the large number of tourists likely to be brought in by the new facilities;

- makes no mention of where the water required for the artificial snow machines is to be collected;

- does not include a study into where the waste water is to be discharged;

- makes no mention of the electricity supplies required to operate the new ski lifts.

Does the Commission really intend to finance the construction of a cableway between Valsesia and the Valle di Gressoney?

Can it take action to ensure that the aforementioned sites of Community importance are not threatened by the project?

Can it ensure that the project complies with the Community environmental impact assessment directives?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2000)

The project referred to by the Honourable Member is part-financed under Objective 5(b) of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of measure IV.2 in the single programming document for the Piedmont region for the period 1994-1999. The total cost of the project is ITL 14 billion, of which the Community share is ITL 4 943 billion.

Part-financing of this measure was conditional on a socio-economic evaluation and environmental impact assessment carried out in 1997.

This project appears to be covered by class 12(a) (Ski-runs, ski-lifts and cable-cars and associated developments) of projects listed in Annex II of Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1). In accordance with Article 4(2) of the latter Directive, Member States determine through a case-by-case examination, or thresholds or criteria set by the Member State, whether the project is to be made subject to an assessment in accordance with Articles 5-10. Member States may decide to apply both procedures.

The sites mentioned by the Honourable Member are proposed sites of Community importance (pSCI) under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(2), and special protection areas (S.p.As) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds(3). With reference to pSCI, Member States must act to ensure that the aims of the Directive are not jeopardised. Even in the absence of a Community list of such sites, Member States' authorities are advised to abstain from all activities that may cause a site on the national list to deteriorate. With reference to S.p.As 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.

In this specific case, the Commission was not aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member. It will therefore take the appropriate steps in order to gather detailed information about it and to ensure compliance with Community law.

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.