WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3276/97 by Carles-Alfred GASOLIBA I BÖHM to the Commission. Project for urban development in the 'Marjal de Xeraco' marshland
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: European Parliament, GASOLIBA I BOEHM
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, bird, humid zone, nature reserve, protected area, protected species, protection of animal life, urbanisation

C 134/130

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 1997)

The Commission is fully aware of the case law to which the Honourable Member refers.

Further to this case law, the Commission launched infringement proceedings against Belgium based inter alia on
the fact that Belgium continued to prevent some Community students from recovering unduly paid university
fees (minerval). The Court of Justice held that Belgium was in breach of European law: (cid:145) ... by restricting in an ad
hoc manner the possibility of obtaining reimbursement of minervals unduly paid under Community law only to
Community nationals who commenced legal proceedings before 13 February 1985 ...(cid:146) (1).

The Commission considers that Belgian legislation is still not in conformity with Community law as regards the
right to recover illegal fees, and the Commission has launched infringement proceedings based on Article 171 of
the EC Treaty for failure to implement the Court(cid:146)s judgement. These proceedings are currently under way.

(1) 

Judgement of 3May 1994, Commission v/ Belgium, case 47/93. Rec. 1994, p. 1-1593.

(98/C 134/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3276/97

by Carles-Alfred Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Project for urban development in the (cid:145)Marjal de Xeraco(cid:146) marshland

In 1993 the European Commission funded, on the basis of the LIFE Regulation, the establishment of a network of
nature  reserves  to  safeguard  the  (cid:145)samaruc(cid:146)  (Valencia  hispanica),  a  fish  species  included  in  Annex  II  to  the
Directive on habitats. The (cid:145)Marjal de Xeresa(cid:146) marshland in the Autonomous Region of Valencia is included in
this network of reserves, a preliminary step towards its being declared a special protection area and subsequently
being included in the European Natura 2000 network.

A  project  for  urban  development  in  this  wetland  was  recently  submitted  and  was  approved  by  the  local  and
regional governments.

Does the Commission know about this urban development project? Has it considered whether it may jeopardize
the nature reserve which received Commission support?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1997)

The Commission had been unaware of the facts brought to its attention.

Given that the Marjal de Xeraco is one of the areas included in the project entitled (cid:145)Conservation of wetlands and
creation of a network of reserves for Valencia hispanica(cid:146) which is receiving Community funding under the LIFE
Nature programme, the Commission will contact the regional authorities benefiting from the contract in order to
ask them for information on this matter.

(98/C 134/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3288/97

by Edith Mu¤ ller (V) to the Commission

(20 October 1997)

Subject: Selection procedure for the recruitment of administrative assistants (accounting/auditing) (EUR/B/105)

The  Commission  recently  completed  the  selection  procedure  for  the  recruitment  of  administrative  assistants
(accounting/auditing)  (EUR/B/105).  For  all  stages  of  this  procedure  (written  applications,  admission  to  the
written test, admission to the oral test, list of suitable candidates) can the Commission indicate the number of
candidates, giving a breakdown by nationality and sex?