WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2359/97 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ to the Commission. Gold mining in Western Turkey and EU participation
Date: 1997-07-10
Institutions: BLOCH VON BLOTTNITZ, European Parliament
Subjects: Türkiye, air quality, dangerous substance, environmental protection, gold, marine pollution, mining operation, pollution control, public health, soil pollution













EUR-Lex - 91997E2359 - EN






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91997E2359

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2359/97 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ to the Commission. Gold mining in Western Turkey and EU participation  


Official Journal C 102 , 03/04/1998 P. 0034 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2359/97 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission (10 July 1997)Subject: Gold mining in Western Turkey and EU participationHighly toxic sodium cyanide is reported to be being used in Western Turkey (near the shores of the Aegean in the Bergama and Edremit area) to extract gold. In a resolution of 17 November 1994 (B4-0410/94 ((OJ C 341, 5.12.1994, p. 169. ))) the European Parliament spoke out against participation by European companies in this project. The following points were crucial: the collecting ponds for sodium cyanide mud would give off prussic acid in concentrations potentially fatal to humans. The region is also one of the most earthquake-prone in the world. There is a great danger of cyanide pollution of the ground water. A breach of the dam would have devastating consequences if the cyanide slurry spread over the adjacent fields.The abovementioned resolution calls on the Commission, in paragraph 4, to investigate the ecological impact of the gold mining project; it also calls on the Member States and the Commission to take action to avert the threatened environmental disaster.1. Has the Commission investigated the environmental impact of the project and what were the results?2. What action has the Commission taken to avert an environmental disaster there, and what further action does it intend to take?3. Is the Commission aware of the action taken by individual Member States to avert an environmental disaster? If so, what are they exactly?4. How does the Commission view the fact that European companies are taking part in the project and using environmentally devastating processes in Turkey which are not permitted in the EU?Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (15 September 1997)The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answer to Written Question No 2232/92 submitted by Mr Alavanos ((OJ C 95, 5.4.1993. )).The Commission will make every effort to obtain information on the installations to which the Honourable Member refers, which are situated in the Aegean Sea area. Since they are outside Community territory, Community Directives do not apply to them.As part of the financial cooperation between the Community and Turkey, the Turkish authorities have submitted to the Commission a project on the assessment and monitoring of sea, ground and air pollution throughout Turkey's Mediterranean coastal area. However, because of the situation regarding financial cooperation with Turkey, the Commission cannot say whether such a project can be financed in 1997.