WRITTEN QUESTION E-1824/99 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Breaches of environmental and safety legislation by the river Umia dam scheme in Galicia.
Date: 1999-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Regional Development Fund, Galicia, engineering structure, environmental impact, environmental protection, hydroelectric power, impact study, local government, operational programme

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/25

(2000/C 225 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1824/99

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

(12 October 1999)

Subject: Breaches of environmental and safety legislation by the river Umia dam scheme in Galicia

On an initial pretext of needing to provide water for the SalnØs district in Galicia, the Galician Fovernment
claim that there was an urgent need to build a dam on the river Umia, which was in fact quite fraudulently
intended to supply hydro electric power. The obligatory study of the impact of the scheme both on the
environment and on the safety of the local population was not carried out, although the scheme could
destroy a substantial part of the area(cid:146)s cultural and natural heritage and its tourist potential. The scheme
was rejected by an overwhelming majority of those affected (who were even subject to police violence
during peaceful demonstrations), and negative assessments were returned by the Galician ombudsman; the
scheme was condemned by the Galician High Court, which ordered building operations to cease forthwith
and for the land concerned to be returned to its owners. The Galician government quite illegally ignored
this ruling.

Is the Commission going to take the requisite and economic steps to ensure that the Galician Government
ceases its building work on the Umia dam and restores the status quo ante, so as to prevent the grave
prejudice which will otherwise be caused to the local population?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 1999)

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s question concerns a dam project on the River Umia close to the village of
Caldas de Reis in Galicia. The Honourable Member has already lodged a petition regarding the project
(No 79/98).

In its examination of the petition, the Commission is attempting to clarify the situation as reported,
including the alleged misapplication of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment
of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1), as amended by Directive 97/11/
EC, and of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora (2).

This detailed examination (cid:129) particularly necessary inasmuch as the project is part of the Autonomous
Community of Galicia(cid:146)s operational programme, which receives funding from the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF) (cid:129) is not yet complete.

The Commission will not fail to keep the Honourable Member informed of further developments in this
matter within Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on Petitions.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2000/C 225 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1826/99

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(11 October 1999)

Subject: International child abduction

in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental

Article 4 of the proposal for a Council regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of
judgements
joint children
(COM(1999) 220), which relates to child abduction states that the courts with jurisdiction within the
meaning of Article 3 (Parental responsibility) shall exercise their jurisdiction (cid:145)in conformity with the Hague
Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction(cid:146).

responsibility for