WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1043/98 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ to the Commission. Construction project in the Turkish nature reserve of Kabak Koyou
Date: 1998-04-06
Institutions: BLOCH VON BLOTTNITZ, European Parliament
Subjects: Türkiye, countryside conservation, environmental protection, hotel industry, nature reserve, property development, protected species, reptile

C 354/56

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 11. 98

5.
Does  the  Commission  have  the  power  to  make  proposals  for  binding  agreements  between  the  Member
States prohibiting them from spying on one another and the EU institutions, instituting strict rules concerning
interception of the communications of members of the public, organizations, businesses and government bodies,
permitting  such  interception  only  for  precisely  defined  security  purposes,  and  guaranteeing  procedures  for
independent judicial supervision, proper consideration of complaints and parliamentary control? If so, will the
Commission make such proposals?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 1998)

1 and 4.
internal Commission decisions on the secure handling of classified information.

The sending of confidential information by these open means of communication is prohibited by

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission(cid:146)s answer to her Written Question E-1039/98 (1).

2.
It is normal practice for the Commission to keep its security arrangements under constant review.

In a communication to the Parliament and other institutions (2), the Commission has already given its view

3.
on the need for security and privacy in electronic communication.

5.

The Commission does not have such power according to its competence as defined by the EC Treaty.

(1)  See page 55.
(2)  COM(97) 503.

(98/C 354/97)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1043/98

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission

(6 April 1998)

Subject: Construction project in the Turkish nature reserve of Kabak Koyou

On  8  August  1997  a  region  in  Turkey  called  Gemile  Koyou  was  designated  a  nature  reserve.  This  region  of
unique  natural  beauty  is  one  of  the  most  important  reserves  and  egg-laying  sites  of  the  caretta-caretta  turtle.
Despite the comprehensive rules that have been adopted classifying the region a protected area under Turkish
law, a hotel complex is now being completed there. This construction project and the necessary infrastructures
will permanently damage the region and pose a threat to the survival of the caretta-caretta turtle.

1.

Does the Commission possess any information about the above project, and if so, what information?

Does  it  see  any  possibility  of  exerting  pressure  on  Turkey,  within  the  framework  of  international

2.
conventions on the protection of endangered species, to stop this building project going ahead?

Does it see any other possibility of preserving one of the last reserves of the caretta-caretta turtle which in

3.
imminent danger of extinction?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1998)

The  Commission  can  inform  the  Honourable  Member  that  Gemile  Koyu  is  officially  listed  in  Turkey  as  a
protected site. No permission has as yet been given to build a hotel. The authorities are now undertaking an
in-depth study of the reserve to see what degree of protection its unique characteristics require. A decision will
then be made on whether or not to build a hotel.

As things stand, the contractual relations that the Community has with Turkey do not allow it to intervene in this
case.