WRITTEN QUESTION E-0318/00 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Mining and exploitation of gold deposits on the Island of Milos.
Date: 2000-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, biotope, dangerous substance, directive (EU), environmental impact, environmental protection, gold, health risk, mineral prospecting, ore processing, pollution control measures, water pollution

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/121

the European Union is self-sufficient as regards the production of olive oil. Despite this, the same
document draws attention to the fact that the European Union is importing olive oil on preferential
terms, mainly from Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey.

Will the Commission give the precise amounts of olive oil imported from the above three countries and
indeed from any other Mediterranean countries and state why olive oil is being imported from outside the
EU, and notably on preferential terms, given that the Union not only covers its needs through domestic
production of olive oil, but actually produces a surplus of 107,2 %, according to 1996 data which are
quoted by the above document?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

Overall, the Community appears self-sufficient as regards production of olive oil. However, in many years
the Community has to import to meet the demand for olive oil both at home and on the world market.
Moreover, operators use olive oils from non-member countries for certain types of cutting of olive oils.

Concerning preferential imports, the Community has committed itself to importing certain quantities of
olive oil from the Mediterranean countries. The principal concession concerns Tunisia with 46 000 tonnes
of olive oil at reduced duties (EUR 7,81/100 kg instead of
the normal customs duty of about
EUR 140/100 kg), while Morocco, Lebanon and Algeria were allotted concessions in the form of a
reduction of the rate of EUR 0,7245/100 kg.

In the case of Turkey, the reduction in the customs duty on virgin olive oil is 10 % and on refined olive oil
5 %.

In the marketing years 1996/97 to 1998/99, total imports in tonnes from these countries were (1):

Tunisia

Turkey

Lebanon

Morocco

Algeria

1996/1997

1997/1998

1998/1999

45 150,7

46 305

46 028

45,9

13,5

17

0

31,5

3,8

56,2

0

107,4

5,0

0,9

0

(1)

Imports do not include quantities imported and re-exported under the inward processing arrangement.

(2000/C 330 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0318/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: Mining and exploitation of gold deposits on the Island of Milos

The company Midas Ltd. is planning to prospect for gold by drilling over an area of 17 760 000 m2 at
Profitis Ilias, Chondro Vouno, Koumaria, Kalamavros and Ralaki in the municipality of Milos, a large part
of which has been proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 programme.

Investments of this kind do not have a very positive track record internationally: a similar gold mining
project at Pergamon in Turkey foundered owing to the resistance of the local population who even
involved the European Parliament, and the artificial lakes of toxic waste which are the by-product of such
investments pose a threat to the environment (for instance, the Doæana National Park in Spain). In the case
of Milos the overwhelming majority of the social and professional bodies on the island are strongly
opposed to the project and are calling for an immediate suspension of operations by Midas Ltd.

C 330 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

The use of cyanide in processing the gold ore and the highly toxic residues produced by investments of
this kind constitute a threat to public health and the environment, the ground water and the entire region,
and there is also a risk of marine pollution.

Given that the Greek Aegean islands are facing increasing water supply problems, and the Community has
co-funded substantive infrastructures aimed at solving these problems and indeed shown particular
concern by taking special measures;

Greece has been found by the European Court of Justice to be in breach of Article 7 of Directive 76/464/
EEC (1) on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of
the Community and Directive 92/43/EEC (2) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora;

The environmental impact assessment has been rejected by the Prefectural Council of the Cyclades;

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to prevail upon the relevant Greek authorities to
put an end to the above operations which on the one hand are in breach of Community environmental
legislation and pose a threat to public health and on the other are clearly at odds with the EU policy on a
European integrated coastal zone strategy?

(1) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976, p. 23.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 5.

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

(23 March 2000)

The areas of (cid:145)Profitis Ilias(cid:146) on the island of Milos, as well as the (cid:145)Western Coast of Milos(cid:146), are included in
the list of sites of Community importance proposed by Greece, by virtue of Council Directive 92/43/EEC
of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. In view of the future
inclusion of these sites in the Natura 2000 network, any activities which could seriously affect their
conservation value should be avoided.

The project planned by the company Midas is included in Annex II of Council Directive 85/337/EC of
27 June 1985 as modified by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 on the assessment of the
effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1). According to Article 4, Member States
have the obligation to determine whether the project shall be the subject of an environmental assessment.
The latter Directive is not yet transposed in Greece.

The Commission would like to thank the Honourable Member for the information given about the
activities of this company. In order to investigate the issue, a letter will be sent to the Greek authorities
requesting information.

Concerning the Court decisions mentioned, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that
Directive 92/43/EEC has been transposed in Greece by ministerial decision number 33318/3028/1998.
Concerning the Court decision dated 11 June 1998 about the failure of Greece to establish programmes
including quality objectives for dangerous substances within List II of Council Directive 76/464/EEC of
4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment
of the Community, for the waters of the Gulf of Pagasai and those of Lake Vegoritis, the Commission has
sent a letter of formal notice to the Greek authorities on the basis of Article 228 (ex-Article 171) of the EC
Treaty.

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.