WRITTEN QUESTION P-1736/00 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Route of the Atlantic highway and Porriño (Spain).
Date: 2000-05-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Galicia, Spain, Structural Funds, biotope, motorway, road building

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/183

(2001/C 53 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1730/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Commission linguistic policy and the safeguard and promotion of minority and regional languages

In its joint reply to my parliamentary questions E-0465/00 and E-0478/00 (1), the Commission stated that
it was considering conducting a study into the needs of linguistic minorities in the Union, which could
provide important additional information on this issue. I should like to be promptly informed of future
developments in connection with this matter.

To this end, will the Commission give details of the current state of play on this issue? Specifically, when
will a final decision be made on whether or not a study is to be carried out, and what would be its
objectives and guidelines?

Would the study be carried out internally or externally?

(1) OJ C 374 E, 28.12.2000, p. 82.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

The Commission is currently drawing up specifications with a view to launching a call for tenders for a
study dealing specifically with the needs of regional and minority language communities in the European
Union.

The plan is to build on the results of the Euromosaic study carried out in 1992 and extended in 1997 to
cover the three new Member States. The first objective is to study the following aspects of the regional and
minority language communities: the use of the language,
its legal and administrative position, and its
presence in education, the media, public and economic life. The second objective is to take stock of the
various measures taken around Europe to support and promote these languages, and to analyse their cost
and their impact on the use of the languages. The aim of the study would be to enable Community
funding to be better targeted towards those communities that need it most and towards the most effective
promotion measures, taking into account the resources deployed.

A decision on the timetable for the study depends on resolving the legal difficulties surrounding the
execution of the budget heading in question (B3-1000).

(2001/C 53 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1736/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Route of the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146) and Porriæo (Spain)

(20 May 2000)

Following the presentation of various options for the route of the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146) in relation to the
locality of Porriæo (Pontevedra province, Spain), the Spanish Ministry of Public Works and the concessio-
naire enterprise have chosen the least environment-friendly option, namely the route running next to the
GÆndaras de Budiæo lagoon, within the area which has been proposed for inclusion in the (cid:145)Natura 2000(cid:146)
network.

This area is included in the register of natural habitats of the Galicia region, pursuant to the order of
28 October 1999 which lists, on a provisional basis, the areas proposed for inclusion in the (cid:145)Natura 2000(cid:146)
network, as natural habitats qualifying for a general protection regime.

C 53 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Is the Commission aware of the choice of this route for the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146), affecting as it does a
locality of European importance pursuant to Council Directive 93/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of
natural habitats?

Can the Commission state whether the construction of
cofinancing?

this section will benefit

from Community

What action does the Commission intend to take with the Spanish and Galician authorities in defence of
the integrity of GÆndaras de Budiæo?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

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

(22 June 2000)

The Spanish authorities have indicated that the stretch of the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146) affecting Porriæo will not
be receiving Structural Fund cofinancing during the 2000-2006 programming period as it is to be built by
a private company through a concessionary arrangement.

As Spain has proposed the area in question, GÆndaras de Budiæo, as a site of Community importance
(ES 1140011), the Commission decided to launch an own-initiative investigation of the matters raised in
the Written Question. As part of its examination of the dossier, it has questioned the Spanish authorities to
check that Community law is being observed in this instance.

(2001/C 53 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1747/00

by Luckas Vander Taelen (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 May 2000)

Subject: Impartiality of the selection panel for the international architectural competition relating to the

European Quarter in Brussels

In reply to Question P-2255/99 (1) on the competition relating to the European Quarter in Brussels, which
I submitted, the Commission stated that it had initiated infringement proceedings against Belgium for a
breach of Article 13 (concerning contests) of Council Directive 92/50/EEC of 18 June.

During the two stages of the competition relating to the European Quarter in Brussels, three members of
the panel did not have the independence required by the directive referred to:

(cid:129) Mr Montois was associated with the winning firm (cid:145)Art & Build(cid:146)

in the context of a competition
launched in November 1997 for the renovation of the LOTTO tower and for which they were
appointed judges;

(cid:129) Mr Van de Voorde, the chairman of the panel, was at the time of the competition on his own
admission specially associated with the Genval architectural office (placed second in the competition)
in the context of projects concerning the construction of the European Parliament(cid:146)s D3 building and
the new SNCB Quartier LØopold station;

(cid:129) Mr Lallemand, from the (cid:145)Art & Build(cid:146) office, was at the time of the competition already in charge of
project realisation and management of the construction team renovating Berlaymont 2000, technical
coordination of which was the responsibility of Mr Giulianelli, member of the panel as the European
Commission(cid:146)s representative.

There was no provision in the competition rules for the presence on the selection panel of Mr Van
Hufflen, Mr Martiny or honorary chairman Mr Hasquin (all Belgian). As a result, at the second stage there
were eight Belgian panel members (excluding Mr Hasquin) whereas the rules stipulated that there should
be only five Belgian members.