WRITTEN QUESTION P-1931/99 by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Complaint 98/4317, sg(98) A/5584 concerning the activities of SA Métal Blanc at Bourg-Fidèle, France.
Date: 1999-10-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, action for failure to fulfil an obligation, complaint to the Commission, metal pollution, metallurgical industry

C 203 E/90

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

Given the interest shown and the degree of detail in the questions asked, the Commission will forward a
copy of the 1996 study directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat-General.

This study shows that the principles of the recommendation have in general been incorporated by national
legislation. However, the Commission is aware of the concerns expressed, particularly by some Members of
Parliament or associations, regarding the practical application of the rules in question and the checks
carried out.

The Commission fully intends to re-examine the question of fire safety in hotels. To this end, an

4.
interdepartmental working group has recently been formed.

In the course of the year 2000, the Commission intends to review the matter once again in order to
determine what action needs to be taken. It intends, in this connection, to put the subject on the agenda of
a forthcoming meeting of the consumer safety working party, a group of experts which assists the
Commission in the area of consumer safety.

(1) OJ L 384, 31.12.1986.
(2) OJ C 45, 10.2.1998.
(3) Debates of the European Parliament (January 1999).

(2000/C 203 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1931/99

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 October 1999)

Subject: Complaint 98/4317, sg(98) A/5584 concerning the activities of SA MØtal Blanc at Bourg-FidŁle,

France

On behalf of the association (cid:145)DØfense et Protection de l(cid:146)Environnement de Bourg-FidŁle(cid:146)
(Bourg-FidŁle
environmental protection association), Mrs Schneider of Grand HongrØaux, F-08230 Rocroi, France, lodged
a complaint with the Commission on 20 February 1998 concerning lead pollution of her village. This
environmental pollution is probably caused by the activities of SA MØtal Blanc of Bourg-FidŁle.

The Commission registered this complaint under No 98/4317, sg(98) A/5584. Since then there has been
considerable press interest in this problem; unfortunately,
it seems that lead pollution has undeniably
affected the village and its inhabitants (particularly children).

Can the Commission say what are the results of the inquiry it has conducted to investigate this complaint?
What action does it intend to take on this matter?

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

(11 November 1999)

The Commission has indeed registered the letter mentioned by the Honourable Member complaining about
the pollution caused by a non-ferrous metals foundry located within the municipality of Bourg FidŁle
(Ardennes dØpartement) as a complaint, under number 98/4317. The plaintiffs have supplied the Com-
mission with further information on several subsequent items of correspondence.

After analysing the information passed on by the plaintiffs, the Commission asked the French authorities
to comment on the facts of the case, which were likely to indicate poor implementation of several
directives on waste and on both water and air pollution caused by certain dangerous substances.

Since that letter has remained unanswered well beyond the stated two-month deadline, the Commission
decided, on 13 October 1999, and in accordance with Article 226 (former 169) of the EC Treaty, to send
a letter serving notice to the French Government because that government had failed to fulfil the
obligations imposed on it by Article 10 (formerly 5) of the EC Treaty by not responding to the above-
mentioned request for information.

At this stage without prejudice to the substance of the case, that decision solely relates to the cooperation
on which the Commission is unable to pronounce without having received the French authorities(cid:146)
comments.