WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3740/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Assessment of the environmental impact of construction of the Castel Sant'Angelo subway in Rome
Date: 1997-11-17
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: European Investment Bank, Latium, engineering structure, environmental impact, financing plan, project evaluation, public works, underground railway, underground transport, urban construction

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/111

(98/C 174/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3735/97

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(21 November 1997)

Subject: JEM Programme

Would the Commission supply me with an initial report on this programme specifying:

1.  The  number  of  candidates  having  taking  part  in  exchanges  between  the  European  Union  and  the  Asian

countries since this programme has been in existence,

2.  The number of business receiving the participants and the sectors to which they belong.

Answer given on behalf of Mr Mar(cid:14)·n on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 1997)

The Junior EU-ASEAN Managers Exchange Programme was set up during 1996 and became fully operative in
November 1996. It provides businesses in both regions with an opportunity to take in young managers from the
partner region, allowing exchange of experience and culture.

Since November 1996, three groups of young Asian managers (with 14, 17 and 10 members) have been found
places in 19 businesses in six Member States, in the commerce and distribution, transport and electronic systems,
energy and environment sectors respectively. Some 15 young European managers are to be sent to Asia and
15 young Asian managers are to come to Europe in January and February 1998, entering the distribution and
micro-electronic sectors in Asia and distribution, the media and banks in Europe.

The Programme(cid:146)s first year in operation produced excellent results; the firms and young managers taking part
expressed genuine satisfaction based on this experience. The Commission has also instructed an independent
consultant to draw up an initial evaluation on this basis.

(98/C 174/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3740/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(17 November 1997)

Subject: Assessment of the environmental impact of construction of the Castel Sant(cid:146)Angelo subway in Rome

I have already submitted a number of questions on the construction of the Castel Sant(cid:146)Angelo subway.

Press  articles  published  recently  state  that,  when  asked  about  the  requirement  that  the  subway  project  be
subjected to an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Annex II of Directive 85/337/EEC (1), the Rome
councillor responsible for public works maintained that such an assessment was unnecessary under Italian law
(in particular circular GAB/96/15208 issued by the Environment Ministry on 7 October 1996).

The Commission has, however, indicated in other cases that the presidential decree of 12 April 1996 should be
referred to in connection with projects covered by Annex II of the above Directive, since it appears to constitute
an accurate transposition of Community law.

The  above  presidential  decree  stipulates  that,  for  projects  such  as  the  subway,  it  is  the  job  of  the  regional
authorities to establish whether an environmental impact assessment is required and to lay down the relevant
procedures.  Despite  this,  Latium  Regional  Council  has  never  looked  into  the  issue  of  the  subway  and,
furthermore, has yet to pass a regional law governing such matters.

The  Rome  councillor(cid:146)s  reference  to  the  ministerial  circular  would  therefore  appear  to  be  unfounded.
Furthermore,  Rome  Council(cid:146)s  unilateral  decision  not  to  subject  the  project  to  an  environmental  impact
assessment, despite the fact that it affects an area of great archaeological and architectural interest, would appear
illegal.