WRITTEN QUESTION E-1605/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Sewer systems in Pendeli.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Greece, Community support framework, Greece, competence of the Member States, wastewater

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/85

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s view that preventive detention should be kept to the
absolute minimum necessary for reasons such as ensuring the accused(cid:146)s presence at his trial. However,
there is no Union legal instrument that lays down generally recognized criteria regarding the duration of
preventive detention.

If the rules the Honourable Member has in mind are those laid down in the Convention for the protection
of human rights and fundamental
freedoms, Article 5(3) of which the Honourable Member indeed
mentions, it must be pointed out that it is not for the Commission to take action in cases of alleged
violations of this Council of Europe Convention by a Member State of the European Union unless the
disputed act of the Member State has been taken within the scope of application of Community law and
therefore equally constitutes an alleged violation of fundamental rights as general principles of Community
law.

(2001/C 72 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1605/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Sewer systems in Pendeli

The western part of the settlement of Pendeli (Mikri Kallithea) on one of the three mountain ranges
surrounding the Attica basin is still without a sewer system, and the needs of the local population are met
by septic tanks. However, owing to the steep gradient of the land the sewage spills into the environment
and small streams in the vicinity, and this has a number of adverse consequences.

Since this is causing serious health problems for the local inhabitants and widespread pollution of the
subsoil, and given that the previous Community Support Frameworks supported actions of this kind, will
the Commission say:

1.

Is it examining any practical proposals for the construction of a sewer system in the region; and

2. Does it intend to support such a measure should it be proposed?

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

(11 July 2000)

In terms of Community law, Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water
treatment (1) requires Member States to ensure that all conurbations having more than 2 000 inhabitant
equivalents (cid:129) (an inhabitant equivalent (cid:129) IE (cid:129) is an organic-pollution measuring unit representing the
average pollution produced per person per day) to be provided with urban waste water collection and
treatment systems. The deadlines for providing those systems are 31 December 1998, 31 December 2000
and 31 December 2005, depending upon the size of the conurbation and the sensitivity of the recipient
waters.

The PendØli settlement (Mikri Kallithea) would seem to be located outside the Athens conurbation and to
be inhabited by less than 2 000 IE. This being the case Community law does not apply to that settlement.
The action to be taken in order to reverse the adverse effect on the environment of the discharge of waste
water falls within the powers of the Greek authorities.

financing under the next Community support

The Commission feels that the type of work referred to by the Honourable Member could be eligible for
framework for Greece during the 2000-2006
joint
structural-fund programming period. However, depending upon the principle of subsidiarity, the choice
of projects to be funded lies with the authorities in the Member State concerned.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.