WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2901/97 by W.G. van VELZEN , Ria OOMEN- RUIJTEN to the Commission. Air-quality Directive, competition on policies and regional cooperation on the environment
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, OOMEN-RUIJTEN, VAN VELZEN W G
Subjects: Belgium, Netherlands, air quality, competition, cross-border cooperation, environmental policy, environmental protection, environmental standard, oil pollution, pollution control measures

C 134/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

(98/C 134/38)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2901/97

by W.G. van Velzen (PPE) and Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Air-quality Directive, competition on policies and regional cooperation on the environment

At  the  beginning  of  August  it  was  revealed  that  a  huge  soil-pollution  incident  had  happened  at  Zelzate  in
Belgium, caused, as shown by test results, by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs, which are
spread  through  the  atmosphere,  have  been  detected  in  weaker  concentrations  as  far  afield  as  the  Zealand-
Flanders border area, in particular in the localities of Sas van Gent and Axel in the Netherlands. A chemicals firm
is suspected of having caused this pollution.

Is it true that PAH limit values have still not been laid down in the air-quality Directive?

Is the Commission prepared to propose strict limit values for permitted PAHs earlier than originally intended
(1999)?

Does the Commission consider that environmental rules for the issuing of licences for PAHs in particular should
be the same in all Member States, or should Member States be able to apply different standards?

If the latter, will the rules of competition be infringed in border areas?

Does the Commission intend, having regard to its new powers under the Amsterdam Treaty and the introduction
of EMU, under which competition between Member States on environment policy must be avoided, to submit
proposals for additional harmonization of environmental rules?

Does the Commission agree that it would be desirable for border regions to have access to a joint approach to
tackling cross-border environmental pollution?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(7 november 1997)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Members  to  the  reply  given  to  their  written  question
No E-2900/97 (1) which concerns the same issue.

The  Commission  intends  to  come  forward  with  a  proposal  during  the  course  of  1999  with  regard  to  the
establishment  of  air  quality  standards  for  polycyclic  aromatic  hydrocarbons  (PAHs).  This  was  the  deadline
foreseen  in  the  framework  Directive  96/62/EC  of  27  September  1996  on  ambient  air  quality  assessment  and
management (2). The Commission does not intend to anticipate this deadline.

The issuing of permits and licensing of PAH emissions and the need for harmonized approaches has already been
covered in reply to the above mentioned written question1.

The  Honourable  Members  consider  it  desirable  for  Member  States  to  be  able  to  develop  joint  approaches  to
environmental problems in border areas. The Commission would point out that several pieces of Community
legislation already contain provisions allowing for special consultation procedures in relation to cross border
issues (e.g. Article 17 of Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention
and control (3) and Article 8 para 6 of Directive 96/62/EC). In addition, there are many international conventions
dealing  with  cross  border  pollution  issues.  The  Commission  is  not  persuaded  that  the  incident  mentioned
constitutes a basis upon which the existing provisions within the Community and in the wider international arena
should be put in question.

(1)  OJ C 117, 16.4.1998, p. 97.
(2)  OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.
(3)  OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.