WRITTEN QUESTION E-1737/99 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Solid municipal waste management project in Galicia and Vilaboa transfer centre.
Date: 1999-10-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, EU aid, Galicia, environmental protection, transport infrastructure, waste, waste management

C 170 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

This Directive stipulates in particular that, at the moment of notification, the draft should be is (cid:145)at a stage
of preparation at which substantial amendments can still be made(cid:146) (Article 1(12)), so that an examination
of the text by the Commission and the other Member States can forestall any new obstacles to the free
movement of on-line services within the internal market.

Any adoption of national provisions as mentioned by the Honourable Members in violation of the
obligation to provide prior notification under Directive 98/0034/EC, as modified by Directive 98/0048/
EC, would render them inapplicable and unenforceable.

The Commission has not been notified of the bill in question under the above-mentioned Directive.

(1) OJ C 27 E, 29.1.2000, p. 146.
(2) OJ L 217, 5.8.1998.

(2000/C 170 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1737/99

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 October 1999)

Subject: Solid municipal waste management project in Galicia and Vilaboa transfer centre

For the 1997-1999 period the Sogama project (1) for the management of solid municipal waste in Galicia
was allocated ECU 155 238 273, 54,88 % of which would come from public funds (the Cohesion Fund(cid:146)s
share being 85 %) and 45,12 % from the private sector. In the description of the project, particular
emphasis is placed on minimising, re-using and recycling waste, but the project is in practice basically
geared to incineration, a procedure to which most of the funding has been allocated. The Sogama project
will lead to an increase in the amount of waste generated and does not include other public projects in
Galicia which are based on minimisation, recovery and recycling.

Furthermore, the Vilaboa transfer centre, which did not form part of the original project, will have to be
sited in a valley which is highly suited to human habitation and which has been selected by the governing
party in Galicia solely for political reasons. This will place an excessive material and environmental burden
on the Vilaboa local authorities since the transfer centre will also serve towns and cities such as Vigo and
Pontevedra.

What is the Commission intending to do to prevent the Sogama project from being implemented under
such conditions and to prevent the Vilaboa transfer centre from being set up?

(1) OJ C 244, 27.8.1999, p. 11.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Financed by the Cohesion Fund and more commonly referred to as the (cid:145)Sogama Project(cid:146), Project 97/11/61/
047 forms part of the plan for managing solid urban waste in Galicia which seeks to bring about a long-
term improvement in the region(cid:146)s deficiencies in this area. In order to achieve the plan(cid:146)s specific goals, the
Regional Government has devised a programme to minimise, re-use and recycle solid waste, supplemented
by measures to enhance public awareness.

The Sogama Project thus provides for the construction of a series of complex installations, which it would
be difficult to carry through without the Community(cid:146)s financial contribution. The other measures planned
to achieve the objectives of the overall plan will be implemented by the national authorities, which are also
responsible for incorporating any project or initiative that may contribute towards completion of the plan.
However,
to the presentation by those
responsible for the project of periodical reports on overall progress.

the Commission has made any financial payment subject

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 170 E/87

The Vilaboa transfer station in particular, the location of which was decided by the authorities in charge,
has always appeared among the nine stations in the project presented to the Commission for part-
financing. The Commission approved the project after undertaking, as part of the consideration procedure,
a socio-economic cost-benefit assessment of the project as a whole and its compatibility with the other
Community policies, in particular in the environmental area. Provided that all the conditions laid down in
Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 of 16 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund (1) are met, the
Commission does not believe that the Sogama Project or the Vilaboa transfer station should be halted.

(1) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994.

(2000/C 170 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1739/99

by Umberto Bossi (TDI) to the Commission

(1 October 1999)

Subject: Directive 96/0009/EC

Can the Commission specify if and how Italy has transposed Directive 96/0009/EC (1) of 11 March 1996
on the legal protection of databases?

Can it also say which countries have not yet adopted national implementing measures with regard to the
above directive?

(1) OJ L 77, 27.3.1996, p. 20.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 1999)

Italy has implemented Directive 96/0009/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 1996 on
the legal protection of databases (1) by (cid:145)decreto legge(cid:146) No 169 of 6 May 1999 (2). The Commission is
currently examining this text.

The Commission has decided to bring before the Court of
Luxembourg and Portugal, to implement the Directive within specified time limits.

justice the failure of Greece,

Ireland,

(1) OJ L 77, 27.3.1996.
(2) Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 138 of 15.6.1999.

(2000/C 170 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1740/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 September 1999)

Subject: Difficulties facing EU students in Yugoslavia as a result of the bombing

A significant number of students from the Member States, particularly Greece, had embarked on courses of
study in Yugoslavia before war broke out. Those students and their families are now having to cope with
very serious problems in the form of pollution, shortage of drinking water, the collapse of infrastructure,
lack of medical care, the terrible difficulties of travelling, fuel shortages and rising crime owing to the
breakdown of society following the war. Naturally, many students are reluctant to return and there is a risk
that they will abandon their courses midway through.