WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1450/97 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Protecting Galician granite
Date: 1997-04-28
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ ALBOR
Subjects: Galicia, architectural heritage, environmental research, heritage protection, monument, pollution, research programme

C 45/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 2. 98

(98/C 45/41)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1450/97

by Gerardo Ferna·ndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission

(28 April 1997)

Subject: Protecting Galician granite

Experts  have  described  the  oxidation  of  the  granite  of  various  historic  buildings  in  the  city  of  Santiago  de
Compostela as worrying, following the discovery made in the wake of the preliminary analysis of the biological
pollution of the stone itself that the high porosity of the granite is accelerating its ageing.

Given  that  the  Galician  capital  is  one  of  the  architectural  jewels  of  the  Union,  and  that  most  of  its  historic
buildings are made of granite, a detailed and comprehensive study of the causes of the sudden ageing of granite
in both modern and ancient buildings is urgently called for.

Can the Commission say what contribution the Community could make to carrying out the requisite studies and
research, so as to find a way to counteract the disease affecting Galician granite and numerous historic buildings
in the Spanish city in question?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 1997)

Since  1986  the  Commission  has,  under  the  environmental  research  programmes,  been  financing  and
co-ordinating projects aimed at the protection and conservation of Europe’s cultural heritage. Several of these
have studied the causes, evolution and repercussions of environmental damage to granite monuments.

In  this  context,  deterioration  from  biological  causes,  as  well  as  the  evaluation  of  different  conservation
treatments for granite, have both been the subject of numerous studies. Indeed, the conclusions of two of these
research projects were presented at an international conference which the Commission organised in Santiago de
Compostela in November 1994. The Commission has published the proceedings of this conference in the form of
a research report (Report No 5) featuring in the body of publications outlining the results of community research
projects on the protection of cultural heritage.

In  addition  the  Commission,  conscious  of  the  historical  importance  of  Santiago  de  Compostela  and  of  the
conservation  difficulties  threatening  its  monuments,  has  since  1994  been  allocating  a  financial  contribution
towards the upkeep of monuments located along the Way of St. James, including the cathedral of Santiago de
Compostela.

All  of  this  highlights  the  Commission’s  keen  interest  in  research  on  the  protection  of  European  granite
monuments of a landmark nature, such as those to be found in the town of Santiago de Compostela.

As  regards  future  activities,  the  Commission,  in  response  to  the  interest  shown  by  Member  States  in  the
protection of our cultural heritage, intends to further broaden its own cultural activities, as well as expanding
research in this area, as outlined in the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for the fifth framework programme.

(98/C 45/42)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1452/97

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) and Se·rgio Ribeiro (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 April 1997)

Subject: Economic estimates and forecasts published by the Commission

The Commission(cid:146)s economic data, estimates and forecasts for spring/summer 1997 have just been published in
Portugal.