WRITTEN QUESTION E-0209/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Environmental impact of the enlargement of Eivissa airport

The Commission needs to assess the Eivissa airport (Balearic islands) extension scheme in terms of its environmental impact on the Ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park which borders the airport. This is an area of the highest ecological value, protected by various EU directives.

The environmental impact study carried out by the Eivissa i Formentera Island Council concludes that:

1. The extension of the runway and the construction of the covered parking area would involve extending the airport's current perimeter to the northeast, which means occupying land which lies within the outlying protection zone of the Ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park (Law 17/2001 of the Parlament de les Illes Balears). This would directly affect the entire protected area; there would be major social economic effects thanks to the new take-over of privately owned land and housing; there would be increased acoustic and air pollution of the sand-dune ecosystems of the Es Codolar area, which are classified as a predominantly conservation area and there would be effects in landscape terms; and furthermore, the area belongs to the special protection area for birds under the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC)(1).

2. Extending the perimeter of the airport's service area would involve the direct takeover and complete remodelling of the parcels of land lying within the Natural Park's boundaries. The occupied area belongs to the extreme southwest corner of the Es Codolar sand dune system, which is classified as a conservation area and protected by the EEC Habitats Directive as an ecosystem of Community interest. Furthermore, the enlargement will mean a whole range of major changes in other areas bordering the Natural Park of Ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera, changes which will in their turn impact on the Natural Park.

Has the Commission carried out an environmental impact study in connection with the foregoing? If so, what was the outcome? If not, does the Commission intend to carry out such a study with a view to assessing the ecological impact on the Ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park, and above all, the possible violation of the Community Directive on Birds 79/409/EEC, the Habitats Directive, and any other EU environmental legislation?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of the situation the Honourable Member is referring to in this written question, having just received a complaint on the subject. That complaint is currently being examined.

Regarding the Honourable Member's question, the Commission would point out that the performance of impact assessment studies on individual projects falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the competent national, regional or local authorities, and that it is for project developers to supply such studies to the competent authorities in order to obtain project consent.

In any event, as guardian of the Treaties the Commission will take the necessary steps to ensure that Community law is observed in this instance.