WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3609/98 by Manuel ESCOLÁ HERNANDO to the Commission. High-tension power line in Bal de Chistau
Date: 1998-12-03
Institutions: ESCOLA HERNANDO, European Parliament
Subjects: Aragon, France, Spain, countryside conservation, electricity supply, energy grid, environmental protection, frontier region, public health, tourism

15.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 297/89

(1999/C 297/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3609/98

by Manuel Escolá Hernando (ARE) to the Commission

Subject: High-tension power line in Bal de Chistau

(3 December 1998)

Since the early 1990s the inhabitants of Bal de Chistau, in the Aragón Pyrenees, have used every possible legal
argument in their fight against the construction of a high-tension power line between France and Spain which
would come through the La Pez pass. In their efforts to protect what is virtually an unspoiled valley they have
received support from all the political parties represented in Aragón and a large number of groups and
associations of all kinds, ranging from environmental bodies to business associations and chambers of
commerce.

The project is being promoted by Red Eléctrica Española in conjunction with its French counterpart, Electricité
de France, and it involves the construction of a 400 000-volt power line linking the French and Spanish
electricity grids. If the line is routed through Bal de Chistau the local people fear that it could jeopardise the
development of tourism in the area on account of the serious impact it would have on health conditions, the
environment and the landscape. For some time the company behind the project 5 Red Eléctrica Española
(REE) 5 abandoned any hope of being able to go ahead with it on account of the obstacles in its path, and it
began to consider possible alternative routings. However, the REE regional director, Agustí Maure, has recently
said that his company has proposed four possible routes to the Spanish Government and that the Chistau
option is once again under consideration.

Does the Commission know what stage this project has reached? If so, what action could it take to prevent the
line from being constructed along a route which would seriously affect the fora and fauna of the Poset
Maladeta Park and the tourist development of an area which has no other resources at its disposal?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 1999)

The Commission has been aware since 1991 of the Aragón-Cazaril project to carry electricity between France
and Spain, which might cross the Gistain valley in Aragón, Spain. This aims to reinforce electricity
interconnection capacity between France and Spain, and is a priority project of the Trans European energy
networks. Much of the line has already been built, but not the crossing of the Pyrenean region. The
Commission understands that some alternative layouts are under study, but no final decision has been taken.

If, as the Honourable Member indicates, the Spanish government is considering alternative ways of
implementing the project, including a crossing of the Gistain valley, this does not reveal that a breach of
Community environmental law may occur and therefore the Commission is not in a position to intervene in
the matter.

(1999/C 297/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3623/98

by Hilde Hawlicek (PSE) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Procedure for the awarding of a contract for the drawing up of a study on cross- border fixing of book

prices

In response to my question to the Commission of 1 July 1998 (P-2184/98) (1) as to which institution of the
Commission would be entrusted with the task of drawing up an opinion on cross-border fixing of book prices
in European linguistic areas, I received the following answer from Commissioner Oreja on 11 September: A
restricted call for tender was published on the basis of the notification of a call for expressions of interest (2). At
the end of the various stages of the procedure, Euromonitor Consultancy was appointed.

After numerous enquiries, this reference from the Official Journal cited above could not be found, and I would
therefore ask the following questions: