WRITTEN QUESTION E-1714/00 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. La Punta agricultural area (Valencia, Spain).
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, Spain, application of EU law, environmental impact, referendum, town planning

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/103

Will the Commission clarify, with particular regard to on-line providers of financial services, the exact
nature of information requirements which would need to be met? In addition, what measures has the
Commission taken to ensure that the information requirements in these two directives are consistent?

When finally adopted, which of the directives, if any, would take precedence for a supplier of financial
services over the Internet, should the information requirements in the two directives be inconsistent?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

In the case of an on-line financial service contract provided to a consumer, the information requirements
contained in any future directive (1) on the distance marketing of consumer financial services would apply.

The information requirements contained in the e-commerce directive (2) are either general (Article 5 on the
provider) or specific (Article 6 and 7 §1 on commercial communications and 10 on contracts). These
requirements are to be applied only when information society services are provided and, in order to avoid
inconsistencies, are in addition to other information requirements established by Community law.

(1) COM(98) 468 final.
(2) COM(98) 586 final.

(2001/C 72 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1714/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: La Punta agricultural area (Valencia, Spain)

(29 May 2000)

In its reply to Written Question E-2709/99 (1) of 28 February 2000, the Commission stated that it
intended to request information on the subject concerned.

What was the outcome of this request?

What information has the Commission received from the Spanish authorities concerning the issue raised in
my question E-2709/99?

In the light of the information received, does the Commission agree that the Spanish authorities have failed
to comply with directives on environmental impact assessment, particularly the obligation to consult the
persons affected and to consider alternative projects? What measures does the Commission intend to take
to ensure that the Albufera nature reserve is not adversely affected by the ZAL Plan?

(1) OJ C 303 E, 24.10.2000, p. 95.

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

(11 July 2000)

After replying to Written Question E-2709/99 (1) by the Honourable Member, the Commission decided to
open an own-initiative investigation that was recorded under reference B-2000/2036.

While examining the case the Commission asked the Spanish authorities for their comments on the facts
mentioned by the Honourable Member.

C 72 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

In response to the request for information, the Spanish authorities stated that the projected logistical
activities estate at the Port of Valencia had been subjected to the environmental
impact assessment
procedure provided for by Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the
impact of certain public and private projects on the environment (2). The environmental impact assessment
of the project were issued on 14 December 1999. An impact study of the project was carried out as part
of the procedure. That study was laid open to public inspection.

Since there are no alternatives it should be stressed that Directive 85/337/EEC does not require the
principal customer to make a study of alternatives.

It emerges from the environmental impact statement that the potential impacts of the project on the
Albufera nature reserve have been examined. The statement concludes that the project will not affect the
reserve. The potential
impacts on the aquifer in the Valencia plain has also been studied. Since the
logistical activities estate will be mainly devoted to goods storage, packaging and labelling activities, it was
concluded that the project will have no impact on the aquifer.

In view of the above it cannot be concluded that there has been any infringement of Community
environmental law in this instance.

(1) OJ C 303 E, 24.10.2000, p. 95.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2001/C 72 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1719/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE),
Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE), Vittorio Sgarbi (PPE-DE), Luigi Cesaro (PPE-DE),
Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE), Renato Brunetta (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE), Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE),
Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE), Mario Mauro (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Nistic(cid:242) (PPE-DE),
Marcello Dell(cid:146)Utri (PPE-DE), Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Raffaele Fitto (PPE-DE),
Umberto Scapagnini (PPE-DE), Pier Casini (PPE-DE)
and Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The euro crisis

(29 May 2000)

The undeniable crisis affecting the euro has been, and is, a cause for great concern in all the countries are
participating in the single currency, and in the EU in general.

Can the Commission as a matter of urgency provide the European Parliament and, more generally,
European citizens, with an adequate explanation of the measures that have been, or are to be, taken to put
an end to a situation which we all hope is transitory, but which nevertheless has been dragging on for
many months?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Although a good part of the depreciation in the euro since its introduction may be explained by a
relatively high starting value (following a substantial appreciation in the course of 1998) and by relative
cyclical developments in the euro area and the other major world regions, most observers agree that the
present level of the euro, around 0.90 US dollar per euro, does not reflect present economic conditions
and it is well below most estimates of a long-run equilibrium value.

Similarly large swings in the exchange rates of the world(cid:146)s major currencies are not at all unusual in the
current free-floating system. In normal circumstances, exchange rate movements fulfil a stabilising role.
Sometimes, however, exchange rates temporarily depart
from economic fundamentals. As economic
growth rates in the United States and the euro area converge, one might expect the exchange rate
increasingly to reflect these fundamentals, so that the euro would move up towards its (cid:145)equilibrium rate(cid:146)
without the need for a policy response.