WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1992/98 by María SORNOSA MARTÍNEZ to the Commission. Failure of the ZAL plan in Valencia to comply with the European directive on environmental impact
Date: 1998-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, SORNOSA MARTINEZ
Subjects: Community of Valencia, EU environmental policy, environmental impact, environmental protection, heritage protection, market gardening, town and country planning













EUR-Lex - 91998E1992 - EN






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91998E1992

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1992/98 by María SORNOSA MARTÍNEZ to the Commission. Failure of the ZAL plan in Valencia to comply with the European directive on environmental impact  


Official Journal C 013 , 18/01/1999 P. 0131 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1992/98by María Sornosa Martínez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission(16 June 1998)Subject: Failure of the ZAL plan in Valencia to comply with the European directive on environmental impactThe draft special plan to extend publicly owned land in the Autonomous Region of Valencia for the development of the logistical activities zone (ZAL) has become a highly controversial issue. Concerned about the erosion of the green belt, inconsistencies in the projects and growth forecasts drawn up by the Port Authority of Valencia (APV) and the scant development of existing port areas, numerous environmental bodies, residents' associations and community groups have voiced their opposition by lodging 15 000 complaints with the Department for Public Works of the Autonomous Region of Valencia. Moreover, the project appears to have sidestepped the environmental impact assessment procedure provided for in Council Directive 85/337/EEC(1) of 27 June 1985 on the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.Article 2 of the directive stipulates that before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue inter alia of their nature, size or location are made subject to an assessment with regard to their effects.Were it to go ahead, the plan would definitely affect 50 hectares and most likely cover a further 25 hectares. It would have a direct impact on the district of La Punta, where land in the green belt continues to face an uncertain future, a matter brought to the Commission's attention in Written Question E-0032/98(2). Furthermore, the plan, if implemented, would involve expropriating private property and forcing people to leave their homes.1. Can the Commission establish whether the project has followed the environmental impact assessment procedure in compliance with Directive 85/337/EEC?2. If infringement of the above directive is established, can the Commission prevent this project from going ahead and demand compliance with the directive, in order to ensure that the legislation in force within the European Union is upheld?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(14 July 1998)Directive 85/337/EEC on environmental impact assessment only concerns actual projects.Therefore that Directive does not apply to plans as described by the Honourable Member to extend publicly-owned land for the purposes of logistical activities.If actual projects deriving from this plan were to be put into practice it would be appropriate to establish whether they are covered by the abovementioned Directive.(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.(2) OJ C 223, 17.7.1998, p. 89.