WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1977/97 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Commission. Risk to the archaeological site at Keratea from creation of a landfill site
Date: 1997-06-09
Institutions: DASKALAKI, European Parliament
Subjects: Central Greece, EU control, European Commission, archaeology, environmental impact, heritage protection, historic site, impact study, waste disposal, waste management

10. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 45/135

Following a preliminary study by the municipality of Nea Ionia the project was put out to tender. The technical
study drawn up by the firm to which the work was assigned was sent to the Culture Ministry, which marked its
agreement by a decision set out in its document YPPO/DAM/472/29563/14.6.96. Final approval was transmitted
on 8 August 1996 and the work began.

On 4 February 1997 the Culture Ministry came back on its first decision and called for changes to the project
relating to the artificial lake, the enclosure and certain other features. On 11 February the work was interrupted in
order to permit archaeological excavation and modification of certain technical particulars of the project in line
with the Member State’s instructions. The Commission considers that any action to be taken in regard to the
monument is a matter not of its competence but of the national authorities’.

For  this  type  of  project  an  environmental  impact  study  is  not  required.  The  project  is  however  covered  by  a
signed  agreement  between  the  municipality  of  Nea  Ionia  and  the  Environment  Ministry.  The  environmental
authorities are  thus closely associated with the project, the purpose of which is to upgrade the urban area in
question.

(98/C 45/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1977/97

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(9 June 1997)

Subject: Risk to the archaeological site at Keratea from creation of a landfill site

The location chosen for a waste processing plant in Attica is situated in a broader area designated a completely
protected archaeological site, the Ovriokastro of Keratea, where an ancient fortified settlement survives together
with other finds and ancient mining shafts.

Bearing in mind that the Archaeological Department of the Ministry of Culture has delivered a negative opinion
on the project, will the Commission say what measures it can and will take to prevent the creation of a landfill site
in a location of archaeological and historical interest which forms part of the European cultural heritage?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(29 July 1997)

Under Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on
the  environment (1),  an  installation  for  the  disposal  of  industrial  and  domestic  waste  belongs  to  one  of  the
categories in Annex II. Pursuant to Article 4, projects belonging to the categories listed in Annex II should be
subject  to  an  environmental  impact  assessment,  where  Member  States  consider  that  their  characteristics  so
require. One of the elements to be taken into account in an environmental impact assessment is the material asset
and the cultural heritage.

Directive 75/442/EEC (2) on waste provides that waste installations must obtain a waste permit. Waste permits
are inter alia for the purpose of implementing Article 4 of the Directive which provides that Member States shall
take the necessary measures to ensure that waste is disposed of without adversely affecting (cid:145)places of special
interest(cid:146).

In order to know whether or not an environmental impact assessment was undertaken in this case, and whether or
not  a  waste  permit  has  been  issued,  a  letter  will  be  sent  to  the  Greek  authorities  requesting  information
concerning the procedures followed for the installation of this landfill site.

(1)  OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2)  OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.