WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2684/97 by María SORNOSA MARTÍNEZ , Pedro MARSET CAMPOS to the Commission. Concentration of ozone in the east of Spain
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, MARSET CAMPOS, SORNOSA MARTINEZ
Subjects: Community of Valencia, air quality, application of EU law, environmental impact, industrial building, infringement of EU law, ozone, public health, vehicle fleet

C 102/90

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2684/97

by Mar(cid:14)·a Sornosa Mart(cid:14)·nez (GUE/NGL)
and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Concentration of ozone in the east of Spain

In the province of Castello·n in the Valencinian community, a Commission-sponsored study entitled (cid:145)Proyecto
Bema(cid:146) is analysing air pollution in the area.

The concentration of ozone in the troposphere is excessive, and according to the experts of the Mediterranean
Environmental Studies Centre (MESC) this is due to refineries and the major increase in the number of motor
vehicles in recent years. The situation is causing respiratory illnesses and severe damage to crops. The scientists
are warning that the oxidizing effect of the ozone has already caused the disappearance of Mediterranean seeds,
and if steps are not taken to reduce ozone levels, they will exceed the level which can be tolerated by living
creatures within 20 years.

The Mediterranean basin is considered to be a particularly threatened area.

Apart from the assessment studies being carried out, has the Commission taken any emergency measures to

1.
prevent the current situation from deteriorating any further?

Is the Commission aware of any failure to comply with Council Directive 84/360/EEC (1) of 28 June 1984

2.
on the combating of air pollution from industrial plants?

3.
How  might  the  Commission  approach  the  Spanish  authorities  with  a  view  to  ensuring  that  Community
environmental  legislation  is  complied  with  and  that  Directive  91/156/EEC (2)  on  waste  and  Directive
84/360/EEC aforementioned are implemented?

(1)  OJ L 188, 16.7.1984, p. 20.
(2)  OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 32.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1997)

1.
The Commission agrees with the Honourable Members that the Mediterranean basin is a very sensitive
area.  However,  the  Commission  has  taken  no  emergency  measures  concerning  tropospheric  ozone  in  the
province of Castello·n in Spain.

2.

The Commission is not aware of any breach of Council Directive 84/360/EEC committed by Spain.

3.
The Commission is not aware of any problem with the implementation of Directive 84/360/EEC in Spain.
However, pursuant to an infringement procedure brought by the Commission the Court of justice condemned
Spain on 5 June 1997 for non-communication of the national measures implementing Directive 91/156/EEC.

Subsequently, the Commission has requested information from the Spanish authorities concerning the measures
adopted in order to comply with the ruling of the Court. The Spanish authorities have replied to the Commission
that a (cid:145)Anteproyecto de Ley de Residuos(cid:146) has been approved by the council of ministers and that the draft law is
expected to be adopted before the end of the year, thus complying with the ruling of the Court and with the
obligations laid down in Directive 91/156/EEC.