WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2996/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC
Date: 1997-10-01
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EC Directive, Greece, domestic waste, drinking water, national implementing measure, public health, supply, wastewater, water pollution, water treatment

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/51

Overall however, emissions precursors of ozone (nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) are already
set to decline significantly in coming years as a result of Community legislation on emissions from transport (2)
and industry, for example, Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (3)
and the proposal for a Council directive on limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use
of organic solvents in certain industrial activities (4).

The  Commission  is  also  preparing  proposals  for  new  air  quality  objectives  for  ozone  and  for  an  integrated
strategy for the reduction of ozone precursors, as required by Council Directive 92/72/EEC on air pollution by
ozone (5) and Council Directive 96/62/EC on ambient air quality assessment and management (6). It is expected
that these proposals will be adopted by the Commission in 1998. The improvements in air quality which will be
expected in coming years will clearly have benefits also for those at work.

(1)  OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2)  Doc. COM(96) 248.
(3)  OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.
(4)  OJ C 99, 26.3.1997.
(5)  OJ L 297, 13.10.1992.
(6)  OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.

(98/C 134/62)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2996/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC

Directive  91/271/EEC (1)  seeks  to  limit  pollution  of  surface  water  by  urban  effluent  in  order  to  safeguard
drinking  water  supplies.  In  the  last  few  days,  pollution  has  been  detected  in  the  drinking  water  supplies  of
Kastoria, constituting a public health hazard.

Is there any evidence that the water was contaminated by urban effluent? What measures will the Commission
take  to  enforce  Community  legislation?  Does  the  system  for  collecting  urban  effluent  in  Kastoria  fulfil  the
requirements of Directive 91/271/EEC?

(1)  OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 1997)

In  response  to  the  Court  of  Justice  judgment  of  28  March  1996  concerning  Greece’s  failure  to  comply  with
Article 170(1) of the EC Treaty, the Greek authorities notified the Commission of Ministerial Decision 6573/400
of  5  March  1997  as  a  national  implementing  measure  incorporating  into  national  law  Directive  91/271/EEC
concerning urban waste water treatment.

However, Greece has not identified sensitive areas, as it should have done before 31 December 1993. Under
Article  5  of  the  Directive,  before  being  discharged  into  sensitive  areas,  water  must  undergo  more  stringent
treatment  than  the  secondary  treatment  referred  to  in  Article  4.  Member  States  must  ensure  that  appropriate
treatment facilities are provided by 31 December 1998 for all discharges from urban areas with a population
equivalent of more than 10 000, as is the case with the town of Kastoria.

Furthermore, the programme for the implementation of the Directive (Article 17) has not yet been drawn up as
the Ministerial Decision was vague on that subject (no precise date given in the text of the Decision, whilst the
Directive stipulates 31 December 1993 as the final date).

The  Commission  will  contact  the  Greek  authorities  to  request  further  details  about  the  implementation  of
Directive 91/271/EEC in the Kastoria region.