WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1942/98 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. Infringement of Community regulations on environmental protection when creating a wind farm in Alto Sannio
Date: 1998-06-11
Institutions: CACCAVALE, European Parliament
Subjects: Campania, Italy, degradation of the environment, environmental protection, heritage protection, mountain region, protected area, tourist region, wind energy

C 354/128

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 11. 98

(98/C 354/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1942/98

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(11 June 1998)

Subject: Infringement  of  Community  regulations  on  environmental  protection  when  creating  a  wind  farm  in

Alto Sannio

A wind farm comprising some 600 turbines is being created in the area of Alto Sannio (province of Benevento,
Italy). Although the area is scheduled for reforestation and the European Community has already allocated funds
for the conservation of the countryside and nature and the creation of a mountain tourist area, the Campania
region has taken advantage of other Community contributions to construct some power lines, some underground
and some above ground, to supply electricity to the ENEL network. There is reason to believe that the wind farm
has been planned in direct defiance of European directives on the protection, regeneration and exploitation of the
region  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  countryside,  environment,  history  and  archaeology.  The  dangerous
consequences  of  the  undertaking  are  visible:  rocks  uprooted,  springs  destroyed,  millions  of  cubic  metres  of
rubble scattered on mountain tops, excavation work in areas that are naturally prone to subsidence. Moreover, no
arrangements were made to consult the public as expressly provided for in Council Directive No 85/337 (1) of
27 June 1985.

Is the granting of Community funds for incompatible projects in the same area not an enormous waste of

1.
resources?

2.
Is  the  creation  of  this  farm,  albeit  with  the  laudable  intention  of  creating  a  source  of  alternative  and
renewable energy, not the result of a thoughtless regional policy that could cause irreversible ecological damage
with all sorts of serious consequences for woodlands, fauna and forests?

Are there not grounds for initiating infringement proceedings against Italy for failure to implement and

3.
comply with Community directives on environmental and regional protection?

(1)  OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.

(98/C 354/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1995/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: The Terminator Gene

What is the Commission(cid:146)s estimate of the impact of Monsanto(cid:146)s Terminator Gene over the next few years on the
livelihoods of farmers in developing countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.