WRITTEN QUESTION P-2284/99 by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission. Use of material classified as waste in Finland.
Date: 1999-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Finland, directive (EU), domestic waste, environmental protection, heavy metal, measuring equipment, sustainable development, toxic substance, waste incineration, waste recycling

C 225 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

As regards Bulgaria, in line with the Commission(cid:146)s October 1999 composite paper on the progress of
candidate countries towards accession, an understanding was reached between the Bulgarian Government
and the Commission, on 29th November 1999, stating that the Bulgarian Government was committed to
definitively close units 1-4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant at the earliest possible dates. In this
context, and on the basis of the commitment of the Commission for financial support, the Bulgarian
Government commits itself to definitively close down units 1 and 2 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant
before the year 2003.

On the occasion of the updating of the energy strategy which will be completed in 2002, Bulgaria will
decide, in agreement with the Commission and taking account of the Nuclear safety account agreement
and other relevant factors, on the definitive closure dates for units 3 and 4, which will be before the
presently envisaged closure dates of 2008 and 2010, respectively. The Commission(cid:146)s understanding is that
the definitive closure of these units will take place in 2006 at the latest.

(2000/C 225 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2284/99

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Use of material classified as waste in Finland

The Commission(cid:146)s proposed directive on the incineration of waste will give rise to serious problems in
Finland. The proposed directive is drawn up with countries in mind in which waste management is based
in complying with the directive Finland would be forced into a
on mass incineration units. However,
situation which would be in conflict with environmental efficiency.

According to industry(cid:146)s own estimates there are at least 200 heating and power generation plants and
industrial furnaces in Finland in which it is possible to safely co-incinerate harmless materials classified as
waste. In addition to wood these include paper which is unsuitable for recycling for one reason or another,
cardboard, textiles and harmless sludge from industrial processes. In our industries the materials classified
as waste which are suitable for incineration are sorted at the place of origin in just the same way, mutatis
mutandis, as in the household and commercial sectors. In this way it is ensured that no more harmful
emissions arise from incineration than from ordinary fuels. The incineration plants are also efficiently
supervised.

The application of such limit values to plants which incinerate harmless materials classified as waste as an
additional fuel is very problematic, if only because the continuous measurement of emissions is expensive
and calls for high investments in measuring equipment. In Finland the long transport distances favour the
use of small plants. Costs could well rise to such an extent that the use of waste as an additional fuel will
cease to be profitable.

Co-incineration can reduce the quantity of waste needing to be transported to landfill sites. The use of the
energy content of materials sorted at source which are classified as waste, but which emit harmless
combustion gases when burnt, contributes greatly to sustainable development.

1. What is the Commission doing to ensure that the drafting of the directive takes into account the
efficient sorting of waste at source in Finland and the use of energy this makes possible?

2.
Is it possible that the authorities supervising incineration could be given wider powers to be flexible
in individual cases, where this is justified in the light of the type of waste and the technical level of the
installation?

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/87

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

(22 December 1999)

The Commission proposal on the incineration of waste (1) was adopted on 7 October 1998. The
Parliament gave its first reading on 14 April 1999. The Council adopted the common position on
25 November 1999.

When preparing the directive the Commission carried out intensive discussions with experts from all
Member States as well as all others concerned. These discussions as well as the negotiations in the Council
have led to a common position which takes into account the specific requirements of the Nordic Member
States.

The common position seeks to establish the same requirements for the co-incineration of waste as for the
incineration of waste. For combustion plants co-incinerating waste, the emission limit values which apply
are generally more stringent than those for plants not using waste. However, the problem is not always
related to compliance with tighter emission limit values, but the costs for the measurement requirements
of the directive. In order to deal with this the future directive provides for the possibility of obtaining an
authorisation to reduce the frequency of the measurements, which should reduce the costs for operators.

Article 11 (6) provides for the possibility to apply periodic measurements instead of continuous
measurements for hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen fluoride and sulphur dioxide. In addition, Article 11 (7),
which was initiated by the Finnish delegation in the Council, allows the frequency of periodic measure-
ments of heavy metals and dioxin to be reduced under certain criteria.

The Commission is therefore of the opinion that the future directive already takes care of the specific
requirements of Finnish waste management systems. Moreover the Commission would consider all new
developments which could arise in the second reading in this respect.

(1) OJ C 372, 2.12.1998 as modified by COM(1999) 330 final.

(2000/C 225 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2287/99

by Karin Riis-Jłrgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Right to freedom of movement and Danish tax rules

(13 December 1999)

When a Danish national moves to Spain and thus establishes his place of residence and centre of interests
in that country, that person(cid:146)s pension is taxed according to Spanish rules but, should the same Danish
national instead choose to set up residence in Portugal, his pension is taxed according to Danish tax rules.
In view of
the
Commission explain how a Danish national(cid:146)s lack of opportunity to enjoy freedom of movement in
relation to the taxation of pensions is in accordance with the Treaty(cid:146)s fundamental and overriding principle
of freedom of movement?

laid down in the Treaty, will

the fundamental principle of

freedom of movement

Although no Community legislation has been adopted on the right to tax income from pensions at EU
level, is there not a risk in practice, as for instance in the above example, that a fundamental EU rule on
freedom of movement is being contravened by national tax rules?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2000)

It is true that in the absence of harmonisation of personal
income taxation European citizens are
confronted with different tax rules when they take up residence in another Member State. This implies a
different level of taxation which may in some cases influence the decision to envisage such transfer of
residence.