WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1461/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Building of the Colle Salario-Bufalotta-Talenti- Tiburtina expressway in Rome
Date: 1997-04-28
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: Latium, environmental impact, environmental protection, expressway, noise pollution, residential area, road building, urban road













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91997E1461

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1461/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Building of the Colle Salario-Bufalotta-Talenti- Tiburtina expressway in Rome  


Official Journal C 060 , 25/02/1998 P. 0020 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1461/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (28 April 1997)Subject: Building of the Colle Salario-Bufalotta-Talenti-Tiburtina expressway in RomeRome City Council will shortly open the first section of the expressway due to link Colle Salario with via Tiburtina, under the urban development plan adopted by the City of Rome in 1962.However, densely populated districts have since grown up in the areas affected by the expressway plans, in particular at Colle Salario, Talenti, Casal de' Pazzi and Ponte Mammolo. Among other things, the road is due to be opened before the completion of work on noise barriers, that are essential for protecting people living in the area from the high level of noise pollution. This has caused alarm among many local inhabitants; however, their complaints have been ignored by the Rome administration.It is therefore clear that the Rome Municipality has not carried out an environmental impact assessment, as required under Directive 97/11/EC ((OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5. )) amending Directive 85/337/EEC ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40. )).Does the Commission agree that the Rome Municipality's attitude is contrary to the provisions of Directive 85/337/EEC on the environmental impact of major projects?Will the Commission state whether the opening of the expressway before the installation of noise barriers has been completed constitutes an infringement of Community law on noise pollution produced by motor vehicles?Will the Commission state whether it considers that steps must be taken to ensure that the Rome Municipality complies with Community law in respect of environmental impact assessments and restrictions on noise pollution?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (9 June 1997)The Honourable Member refers to an urban expressway to be opened shortly.Annex I to Directive 85/337/EEC on environmental impact assessment ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )) does indeed require that expressway projects be assessed. However, the information provided by the Honourable Member does not indicate whether this particular case involves an expressway within the meaning of the Directive.The project in question would appear to belong to Annex II to the Directive, in respect of which recent case-law of the Court of Justice specifies that all categories of project appearing therein must be considered by the authorities with a view to deciding whether impact assessment must be carried out.It should also be pointed out, however, that both the environmental impact assessment procedure and the Commission's own checks take place before a project goes ahead. In this instance, the road would already appear to have been constructed and completed.The project has not received Community funding.