WRITTEN QUESTION P-3107/01

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Destruction of natural environment in eastern Europe as a result of EU transport aid

The EU supports numerous beneficial projects in eastern and central Europe. However, some NGOs and experts are concerned that the development of the TINA network (Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment), modelled on the trans-European networks (TEN), may destroy a number of important bird habitats in those areas of Europe. If this is the case, it is also incompatible with existing EU legislation on nature conservation. These problems arise partly because money is granted for various projects before proper environmental impact assessments have been carried out. The EU supports TINA through the European Central Bank and ISPA.

Will the Commission ensure that a strategic environmental impact assessment in respect of the TINA network is carried out before any further aid is given for the development of infrastructure? Can the Commission also guarantee that EU-assisted transport projects do not destroy bird habitats?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2001)

The TINA transport network is the outcome of a technical thinking exercise conducted at the initiative of the Commission between 1995 and 1999 with the countries applying for accession in order to identify the components of the future trans-European transport network (TETN) which will cover these countries on their accession. The TINA network has been developed in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the Community guidelines concerning the TETN which are set out in Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network(1), recently amended by Decision No 1346/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001(2). These guidelines explicitly incorporate environmental protection and the taking into account of existing Community legislation on the environment as essential elements in the setting up of the network.

Implementation of the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-accession (ISPA) programme and financing from the European Investment Bank must in addition comply with all Community policies and legislation on the environment. In this context, attention is drawn to the obligation on beneficiary countries to observe the procedures established in Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(3), amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997(4). Among other things, this Directive imposes a wide-ranging consultation of the public, which may also include non-governmental organisations. Furthermore, a procedure similar to that provided for by Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds(5) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(6) is also applicable within the framework of these projects.

With regard to the strategic environmental impact assessment referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission would like to clarify that the conception of the TINA network did not incorporate this approach at that time as no recommended and approved methodology was then available. Rules respecting areas that had already been identified as ecologically sensitive were, however, applied. Since that time, analytical methods to conduct a strategic environmental impact assessment of transport infrastructure plans have been devised and tested, particularly under the fourth framework programme for research and technological development (RTD) and through pilot studies on the corridors.

The recent Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment(7), which covers strategic environmental impact assessment, must be applied by the Member States and as from July 2004 should be transposed into national law. As with all the acquis communautaire, this legislation will be applicable to the central and eastern European candidate countries from the moment they join the Union. What is more, as provided for in the proposal to amend Decision No 1692/96/EC adopted by the Commission on 2 October 2001(8), the Commission will take account of the strategic environmental impact assessments covering the sensitive parts of the network in accordance with the principles of this Directive in any future proposal to review the guidelines.

In the meantime, application of Community legislation in force and the close dialogue that the Commission has developed with the non-governmental organisations involved in environmental protection will make it possible to conserve ecologically sensitive areas, particularly bird reservations of international importance when, with Community co-financing, the TETN is introduced into the candidate countries.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2) OJ L 185, 6.7.2001.

(3) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(4) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(5) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(6) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(7) OJ L 197, 21.7.2001.

(8) COM(2001) 544 final.