WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3852/97 by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Pollution by the DEI in Greece
Date: 1997-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, HATZIDAKIS
Subjects: Greece, electrical energy, industrial pollution, power plant, prevention of pollution, tourist region, waste management

C 223/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

Also  the  retroactivity  of  national  fiscal  legislation  has  to  be  judged  within  the  framework  of  the  national
legislation.

It is useful to recall that the Commission has devoted particular attention to the importance of taxation in the
process of European integration. The Commission intends to continue the tasks given to it by the Treaties and to
institute proceedings before the Court of justice in all cases where an infringement against Community law is
established.

(1)  OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.
(2)  OJ L 76, 23.3.1992.

(98/C 223/25)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3852/97

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(5 December 1997)

Subject: Pollution by the DEI in Greece

The region of Ammoudara in Linoperamata near Herakleion in Crete is the site of an electricity generating plant
operated by the Greek Public Electricity Board (DEI). Local inhabitants and people working in the region allege
that emissions and waste from this plant are causing the catastrophic pollution of the natural environment and the
atmosphere of this region which is of outstanding natural beauty: this is greatly damaging tourism which is the
mainstay of the local economy. Despite repeated assurances by the competent authorities that measures will be
taken to remedy this situation, a number of years have gone by without any action being taken.

Will  the  Commission  say  whether  the  operation  of  this  plant  in  the  region  in  question  is  in  keeping  with
Community environmental legislation › and if not what should be done to remedy the situation › and whether it
will agree to funding appropriate measures, such as the removal of the plant from this region or even the fitting of
filters in its flues so as to solve this serious problem, or at least reduce it to a bearable level?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 1998)

The  Commission  would  like  to  inform  the  Honourable  Member  that  it  is  aware  of  these  allegations  and  has
already  taken  action  by  registering  a  complaint  on  this  issue.  The  Commission  is  examining  the  allegations
pursuant to the provisions of Community law and will seek for more information from the Greek authorities.

In  particular,  the  Commission  will  examine  the  case  of  degradation  of  the  environment  due  to  air  pollution
caused by the operation of the energy plant of the Public power corporation (PPC) in contradiction to Council
Directive  94/66/EC  of  15  December  1994  amending  Council  Directive  88/609/EEC  of  24  November  1988
concerning the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the atmosphere from large combustion plants (1)
and Council Directive 84/360/EEC of 28 June 1984 on the combating of air pollution from industrial plants (2).

In case a breach of Community law is established, the Commission will launch the infringement procedure of
article 169 of the EC Treaty. The Commission would welcome any further information in order to be able to
reach a decision on the issue.

However, it is important to note that the complainants have the possibility to seek for administrative remedies
before the Greek authorities or for a judicial review under the Greek law before the competent court, a possibility
which they should be encouraged to use.

(1)  OJ L 337, 24.12.1994.
(2)  OJ L 188, 16.7.1984.