WRITTEN QUESTION E-1081/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Taking account of protests at the devastation of residential and natural areas by the construction of a dam in the Spanish region of Navarre.
Date: 2000-04-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Navarre, Spain, engineering structure, environmental impact, nature reserve, public works, rural settlement

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/119

(2001/C 46 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1081/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 April 2000)

Subject: Taking account of protests at the devastation of residential and natural areas by the construction

of a dam in the Spanish region of Navarre

Is the Commission aware that after completion of the Itoiz dam (which is 135 m in height and
1.
35 km in length) the rivers Irati and Urrobi in the Pyrenees in the north of the Spanish region of Navarre
will flow into a 1 100 ha reservoir which will require the submersion of nine villages in their entirety and
parts of six others, that in addition the nature and bird conservation areas (Txintxurrenea, Gaztelu and
Inyarbe) created and protected with support from the European Union will be flooded, resulting in the
disappearance of rare species of eagles, vultures and owls, while the otter has already disappeared thanks
to the building work?

2.
Is the Commission familiar with the action of the Spanish group (cid:145)Solidarios con Itoiz(cid:146), as reported in
various media, which took place during the opening speech by chairman Abu-Zeid on the occasion of the
second World Water Forum held in The Hague from 17 to 22 March 2000?

3.
Is the Commission also aware that one of the main official arguments for building the dam, namely
the creation of 57 000 ha of land for intensive farming, is not supported by the latest thinking whereby a
sustainable environmental policy involves reducing the area of land under cultivation,
less intensive
farming and maintaining or extending nature conservation areas?

Can the Commission confirm that there are still no detailed and approved plans for the 177 km
4.
canal needed to the south of Navarre, that the project does not appear in Spain(cid:146)s national irrigation plan
currently in force, that the return on this project is extremely dubious and that two-thirds of the expected
increase in electricity production is offset by the discontinuation of existing production of electricity at
plants along the existing river banks?

5.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Is the Commission aware that the construction of this dam is highly controversial because of:

the trial and sentencing of former ministers of the region of Navarre for accepting bribes for allocating
building concessions;

the decisions of 29 September 1995 and 14 July 1987 by the highest courts in Spain which did not
approve the technical project;

the fact that the firm Burson-Matseller was brought in to convince the mass media and public opinion
of the desirability of this project?

6. What does the Commission intend to do:

(a)

to help protect the countryside and fauna in the Western Pyrenees from the detrimental effects of the
planned dam on the countryside and natural life, and

(b)

to reach an agreement with the relevant Spanish authorities in this respect?

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

(17 May 2000)

The Commission received a complaint concerning the construction of the Itoiz dam and conducted an
investigation. On 30 November 1994, the Commission decided not to open infringement proceedings in
respect of this matter. A press release to this effect was issued on 9 December 1994 (1), including the
necessary elements to explain why the file was closed.

It must be noted that the Community has not granted any financing for the construction of the Itoiz dam
in the Navarre region of Spain.

C 46 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Furthermore, as a result of the suggestions made by the Commission following the closure of the file, the
Spanish authorities notified an enlargement of the special protection areas where the project is located.
Recently, they have communicated to the Commission new designations of special protection areas in the
area of Bardenas Reales.

With regard to the observations concerning the judgements delivered by national courts in this issue, it
should be noted that it would be inappropriate for the Commission to comment. It should also be noted
that a recent judgement of the Spanish Constitutional Court has overturned a previous decision by the
Spanish Supreme Court against this project.

Given the fact that the Itoiz dam project has now been constructed, the Commission does not see any
purpose in prolonging commentary on a Commission decision dating from 1994.

(1)

IP/94/1175.

(2001/C 46 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1083/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Reservoir at Caldas, Cuntis and Moraæa (Galicia, Spain)

(7 April 2000)

The Autonomous Government of Galicia (Xunta) has authorised the construction of a reservoir on the
river Umia. The environmental impact assessment approved by the Xunta reveals serious flaws. Much of it
is a verbatim copy of another assessment, conducted on the Sanlœcar reservoir in Andalusia; it refers to
Andalusian towns and to Andalusian bird species not found in Galicia.

Consequently, following a decision by the Ombudsman, a lawsuit has been filed against the three high-
ranking officials at the Xunta who wrote the assessment, accusing them of a breach of trust, the forging of
documents and causing harm to the environment.

The main reason given to the public by the Xunta to justify building the reservoir is the need to supply
water to the inhabitants of the SalnØs region. To that end, the Xunta has manipulated the population
forecasts for the SalnØs region for the year 2000, tripling the figures for the towns of O Grove, Sanxenxo
and Villagarc(cid:237)a by fraudulent means.

According to a report by Professor D(cid:237)az Fierro and the hydrologist `lvarez Enjo from the University of
Santiago, technically speaking, the reservoir is designed to supply hydroelectric power rather than water.
The most convincing proof of this is the recent go-ahead given by the Xunta for the installation of two
hydroelectric power stations on the river Umia, one below the reservoir, the other further downstream,
which involves diverting the course of the river and will damage nature in the Molinos area and the Segade
waterfall. The project report
including the
appearance of parasites, bleaker prospects for tourism, irrevocable harm to fauna and flora, and damage
to the landscape as a result of the installation of the power stations and high-voltage electrical cables.

itself acknowledges that other damage will be caused,

The coordinating committee which opposes building the reservoir at Caldas, Cuntis and Moraæa maintains
that the project is riddled with flaws, including its failure either to meet public interest criteria or to
provide land deeds, an assessment of water supply needs and geological and technical studies into damage
to thermal springs. Furthermore, the reservoir would destroy the diverse species of fish and water quality
in the river Umia and ruin the tourist potential of three towns whose prospects as spa resorts appeared
promising.

Will the Commission verify whether the environmental
sound?

impact assessment submitted by the Xunta is

Will it examine the reasons given for building the reservoir, in view of the damage caused to the region(cid:146)s
landscape, tourist industry and environment?