WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2493/98 by Graham MATHER to the Commission. Environmental impact assessment of projects in developing countries
Date: 1998-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, MATHER
Subjects: Cameroon, EU financing, developing countries, environmental impact, impact study, project evaluation, transport infrastructure, tropical forest

C 118/88

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.4.1999

(1999/C 118/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2493/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Environmental impact assessment of projects in developing countries

1. What provisions exist to assess the environment impact of infrastructure projects in developing
countries to which EU funding is contributed?

2.
Is the Commission aware of allegations that have been made to the effect that the Stabex Road
Rehabilitation Programme in Cameroon has caused great distress in local communities and has led to an
alarming degree of damage to virgin forests in the area?

3.

Does the Commission have any comment to make on this matter?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Since the introduction of the Environment Manual in 1993 each project proposal is subject to an
environmental screening. Through the screening process it will be identified whether negative environ-
mental impacts can be expected due to the implementation of the project. If this is the case, the project
proposal has to undergo a preliminary environmental impact study or, if a serious negative impact is
likely, a full environmental impact study has to be conducted. Such an independent study will either
conclude that the impacts are so serious that the project should not be funded or it will identify specific
measures in order to mitigate the expected negative environmental impacts.

A copy of the Environment Manual is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament(cid:146)s
secretariat. The Commission is aware of criticism concerning a (cid:145)Community funded road(cid:146) in Cameroon.
This criticism has been brought up by the Rainforest Foundation through a film shown on a British
television channel. The film suggests the existence of a causal link between the construction of a
ECU 14 million Community funded road through primary rainforest and negative effects such as the
destruction of this forest through logging and the extermination of endangered species through intensive
poaching, thus depriving the local pygmies of their livelihood.

The facts are that the Community funded maintenance works on an existing road for ECU 0.6 million. This
road is the only access for the remote LomiØ district and its farming population. It is of vital importance for
this population.

The Rainforest Foundation never checked with the Commission the information provided by their own
sources. If they had done so, they would have learned about various projects for the conservation of the
local fauna and, more generally, sustainable development of forestry resources, financed by the
Community in the Cameroonian rainforest area.

(1999/C 118/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2502/98

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Corrupt administrative practices at the Commission

(30 July 1998)

In its judgment of 17 February 1998 in the case T-56/96, Alberto Maccaferri v the European Commission,
the Court of First Instance (CFI) overturned the Commission(cid:146)s decision not to appoint the applicant as a
temporary staff member in category A4/5 in the Directorate-General for Enterprise Policy, Trade, Tourism
and Social Economy following competition 62T/XXIII/93.

Is it true that the services of the European Commission have withdrawn the budgetary support for the

1.
post of a temporary staff member, category A4/5, for which the selection was made?

2. Why would the services of the Commission have committed an unlawful act of this nature?