WRITTEN QUESTION E-1040/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Financial aid to the British oil industry.
Date: 2000-04-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, United Kingdom, aid to industry, oil industry

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/109

The Water Framework Directive currently before the Conciliation Committee makes reference to the desire
to lessen the impact of human activity on the environmental status of the various river basins. With this in
mind, does the Commission take the view that the drainage system used in building the luxury flats could
amount to an environmental offence under Community legislation?

Does it not believe that there has been a definite breach of Directive 85/337/EEC (1), as amended by
Directive 97/11/EC (2), on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment, over which Spain is currently involved in an infringement procedure before the Court of
Justice (Case C-474/99) for its failure to transpose the Directive properly and promptly?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

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

(23 May 2000)

The Commission would point out that the Water Framework Directive has yet to enter into force.

As to whether the situation reported by the Honourable Member constitutes an (cid:145)environmental offence(cid:146)
under Community legislation, the fact is that this concept is unknown in Community law as it currently
stands. It falls to the courts of each Member State to determine whether it exists.

Article 2 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) stipulates that projects likely to have significant effects
on the environment by virtue, inter alia of their nature, size or location must be subject to an assessment
with regard to their effects before authorisation is granted. This provision applies to the projects listed in
Annexes I and II to the Directive.

If the project in question is covered by Directive 85/337/EEC, it would have to come under one of the
categories in Annex II (point 10(b) refers to urban development projects and point 11(a) refers to holiday
villages and hotel complexes). Article 4(2) of the Directive stipulates that projects of the classes listed in
Annex II must be made subject to an assessment where Member States consider that their characteristics so
require.

The Commission has already instituted infringement proceedings against Spain for failure to transpose
Directive 85/337/EEC properly into Spanish law, and has now decided to refer the matter to the Court of
Justice (2).

As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will in any event take the necessary steps to ensure that
Community law is observed in this instance.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) Case C-474/99.

(2001/C 46 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1040/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 April 2000)

Subject: Financial aid to the British oil industry

In her answer to Question E-0218/00 (1), Mrs de Palacio states that, since 1975, the Commission has
provided aid to the United Kingdom totalling € 189,05 million.

C 46 E/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Can the Commission give a breakdown of this figure by year and by undertaking subsidised in the UK?

(1) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 104.

(2001/C 46 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1041/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 April 2000)

Subject: Financial aid for the French oil industry

In her answer to Question E-0218/00 (1), Mrs de Palacio states that, since 1975, the Commission has
provided aid to France totalling € 270,49 million.

Can the Commission give a breakdown of this figure by year and by undertaking subsidised in France?

(1) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 104.

(2001/C 46 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1042/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 April 2000)

Subject: Financial support for the Italian oil industry

In her answer to Question E-0218/00 (1), Mrs de Palacio states that, since 1975, the Commission has
provided aid to Italy totalling € 119,36 million.

Can the Commission give a breakdown of this figure by year and by undertaking subsidised in Italy?

(1) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 104.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1040/00, E-1041/00 and E-1042/00
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2000)

Since 1975, the Community has run programmes to give financial support to innovative technology for
exploration, production and transport of hydrocarbons. In reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written
Question E-0218/00 (1), the Commission provided a breakdown of this support by year and by Member
State. As regards the request for a detailed breakdown by company, the Commission can provide data for
the period 1990-1998. This information is forwarded direct
to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat. It should be noted, however, that the attribution of the support to certain Member
States could be somewhat misleading, as contracts in addition to the main contractor often involve several
participants from different Member States.

With regard to the data requested for the period 1975-1990, it should be noted that a reply to the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s questions would, due to lack of electronic support for data at that time, require a
lengthy and difficult research which the Commission is not in a position to undertake.

(1) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 104.