WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3867/98 by Joost LAGENDIJK Refusal by the Netherlands to implement the Nitrates Directive
Date: 1998-12-09
Institutions: European Parliament, LAGENDIJK
Subjects: EC Directive, Netherlands, action for failure to fulfil an obligation, chemical salt, infringement of EU law, infringement procedure (EU), intensive livestock farming, pollution from agricultural sources, restriction on competition, water pollution

11.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 289/99

(1999/C 289/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3855/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Renewable energy

Has the Commission made any progress in setting up a specialist Task Force on renewable energy which could
develop clear and transparent guidelines for the connection, operation and commercial terms for small plants
and give energy efficiency a prominent role in an integrated European energy and environmental strategy?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Concerning renewable energy sources, as part of the effort towards implementation of the action plan to 2010
contained in the white paper on renewable energies (1), and in accordance with the Parliament’s and Council’s
Resolutions following this document, the Commission has set up a ‘renewable energies working party’,
composed of Member States’ representatives with a strategic responsibility for renewables. This group met
once already in 1998 and reviewed the current situation as regards national programmes, actions, measures,
and plans in this area. It will continue to meet at intervals to review and guide progress. In particular, its first
meeting received a summary overview of national activities in favour of renewables, and this first debate has
been followed up by a more detailed review based on written replies to a questionnaire addressed to Member
States by the Commission.

Moreover, as a result of Commission Decision 96/642/CE (2), an energy consultative committee was formed,
which among other subjects also covers questions concerning energy efficiency. Efficiency issues will be
specifically addressed when covering the energy/environment interface.

In January 1999, an experts’ group meeting was held in Brussels to help prepare the energy efficiency action
plan. This group, comprising Member States and Commission representatives is expected to play an important
role in providing Member State policy opinion and technical input for the development of the action plan and
its subsequent implementation.

(1) COM(97) 599 final.
(2) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996.

(1999/C 289/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3867/98

by Jan Lagendijk (V) to the Commission

(9 December 1998)

Subject: Refusal by the Netherlands to implement the Nitrates Directive

Is the Commission aware that the Netherlands Government decided in early December 1998 not to comply
with the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) (1), adopted in 1991 under the Netherlands Presidency? It appears
from a letter to the Lower House of the Netherlands Parliament that the Government does not intend to
comply with the provisions of the Nitrates Directive by 2002. Even by 2008 the Government does not intend
to comply with the requirements of the directive, since it wishes to work on the basis of 2,5 cows per hectare.
To comply with the Nitrates Directive the Swedish government has set the maximum number of cows per
hectare at 1,6 and in Denmark the government has set a limit of 1,7 cows per hectare for 2003. Is it true that a
limit of this order is necessary in order to comply with the Nitrates Directive? Does not the Commission
consider that intensive livestock rearing in the Netherlands will thus obtain an unfair advantage over foreign
competitors?

When does the Commission expect the infringement proceedings pursuant to Article 169 before the Court of
Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg to be completed? When does the Commission think it
will be able to begin infringement proceedings pursuant to Article 171 against the Netherlands Government
for failure to implement correctly the Nitrates Directive which it adopted itself? When does the Commission