WRITTEN QUESTION No. 679/99 by Richard CORBETT Evaluation of the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment
Date: 1999-03-26
Institutions: CORBETT, European Parliament
Subjects: United Kingdom, coastal protection, complaint to the Commission, environmental impact, project evaluation, protected area, protection of animal life, protection of plant life

21.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 370/83

It is difficult at present to assess the impact on climate protection of any trend away from nuclear
generated electricity in Germany since the information on how an eventual shift away from nuclear might
take place is not yet established.

(1999/C 370/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0649/99

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(16 March 1999)

Subject: Uncontrolled increase in EU immigration

The EU is currently bearing the brunt of a huge wave of immigration; some countries, however, because of
their geographical position, are less able than others to control the flow of immigrants. Since several
countries, such as Italy, have immigration laws that are incapable of even partially responding to the real
needs of both EU and non-EU citizens, and until such time as political union can be achieved, could the
Council not lay down rules to ensure that migratory flows are subject to the same controls in all Member
States?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1999)

The Commission agrees with the assessment that the control of migratory flows at Union level will be one
of the main objectives to be met in connection with the implementation of the Amsterdam Treaty.

Specifically, under Article 62(1) and (2) of the EC Treaty (ex Article 73j), the Council is to adopt measures
on the crossing of the Member States’ external borders, including in particular standards and procedures to
be followed by Member States when carrying out checks at external borders and rules on short-term visas.

Likewise, under Article 63(3)(a) and (b) of the EC Treaty (ex Article 73k), the Council is to adopt measures
on immigration policy in the areas of conditions of entry and residence, illegal immigration and illegal
residence.

Moreover, the implementation of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the
European Union will provide the Union with a series of instruments developed previously in the context of
intergovernmental cooperation.

Accordingly, it would seem that the legal framework which exists following the entry into force of the
Amsterdam Treaty will effectively allow legally binding standards for immigration and border controls to
be adopted at Union level.

(1999/C 370/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0679/99

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(26 March 1999)

Subject: Evaluation of the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment

Where the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (1) requires an Environmental Impact Assessment wherever there
is a ‘likelihood’ that a development might damage a protected area, it is necessary for an initial assessment
to be made as to whether there is any such likelihood. In these circumstances, what is the Commission’s
view of the situation arising when a development takes place without even such an initial assessment
having been carried out or where it is carried out only after the development in question? Is the
Commission aware of the case of the upgrading of the bridges on the Southport Coastal Road which
developed the capacity of the road to take traffic through a protected area? Is the Commission aware that
the assessment carried out by the responsible agency, English Nature, that this development would have no
negative impact on the protected areas, was not given until several months after the event, and even then,