WRITTEN QUESTION E-1781/00 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Protection of the Akamas region in Cyprus.
Date: 2000-06-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, accession negotiations, environmental protection, tourist infrastructure

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/85

The Commission is currently preparing a European strategy for space, together with the executive of the
European Space Agency, in response to the request by Council (2 December 1999). A communication on
the strategy will be presented to Council and Parliament before the end of this year.

These questions will be considered as part of the strategy and further discussions in that context will
determine the Commission(cid:146)s role, if any, in the subject matter raised by the Honourable Member.

(2001/C 89 E/088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1781/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Protection of the Akamas region in Cyprus

Akamas is a unique area of natural beauty and biodiversity, home to many endemic species of flora and
fauna, located in the western part of Cyprus. International efforts have been undertaken to promote nature
protection in this area such as the World Bank(cid:146)s 1995 Strategic Management Plan for the conservation of
Akamas as a Biosphere Reserve according to the IUCN regulations including a National Park (which was
funded by the European Union) as well as the Council of Europe(cid:146)s 1995 Recommendation No 63 based on
the Bern Convention. Despite these efforts, the Government of Cyprus is currently planning concessions in
the form of development (cid:145)relaxation(cid:146) so as to open the Akamas for large-scale tourist development and
infrastructure projects incompatible with the protection area.

As the Commission pointed out in its 1999 Regular Report on Cyprus(cid:146)s Progress towards Accession, the
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive has still not been transposed in Cyprus. The same applies
to the transposition of the Habitat and Birds Directives, with particular regard to management issues and
the provision of a comprehensive system for the designation of special protection areas, even though the
transposition and implementation of the Union(cid:146)s environmental legislation is a fundamental condition for
Cyprus(cid:146)s accession to the EU on which negotiations between the EU and Cyprus have already been opened.

Has the Commission taken any measures to dissuade the Government of Cyprus from implementing its
plans for the Akamas area, and has it explained to the Cypriot authorities that these plans contradict
Cyprus(cid:146)s full acceptance of the Union(cid:146)s legislation with a view to accession, with particular regard to the
EIA and the Habitat Directive? Has the Commission called upon the Government of Cyprus to postpone
any development plans and projects in Akamas until such plans are subjected to an EIA in accordance
with Community legislation? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

The Commission follows closely nature protection in Cyprus, including the issue of the Akamas region,
through the various means at its disposal, in the chapter of the accession negotiations relating to the
environment, in technical contacts with the Cypriot authorities on environmental questions, and through
the various pre-accession instruments, such as the regular report on progress towards accession.

As for the environmental impact assessment directive, 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), it is correct that
it has not yet been transposed in Cyprus, but the authorities have brought forward their plans in order to

C 89 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

complete transposition of the directive during the year 2000. Furthermore, the candidate countries have
been reminded of
the Council conclusions of 24 September 1998 on accession strategies for the
environment, in which it was stated that all new investment should comply with the environmental acquis.

As for the habitats directive, Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2), Cyprus is aware that it has to propose a list of sites to be
designated as special areas of conservation for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. A project under the
LIFE programme, which is assisting the Cypriot authorities in this task, has identified the Akamas region in
an indicative list of such areas.

The Commission has not been informed by the Cypriot authorities of any plans to relax nature
conservation measures in the Akamas region in order to allow large-scale tourist development and
infrastructure projects. However, through the means indicated above, and in particular the consultations
on nature protection, the Commission will continue to monitor Cyprus(cid:146) commitment to the progressive
introduction and implementation of the acquis in this area.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 89 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1784/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Regulating sugar cane production in the European Union

(8 June 2000)

The European Union(cid:146)s only sugar cane plantation, which is located in southern Spain, is going through a
difficult period, as evidenced by the thorny negotiations currently being conducted between sugar cane
growers and sugar cane processing companies in the Malaga region.

There is no secret about the fact that this crop, which is particularly rare in the Union as a whole, needs
firm support from the CAP if it is to continue to be grown within the EU and to be profitable for the
farmers who produce it.

Would the Commission say what its intentions are regarding sugar cane and to what extent it considers
that the CAP should be used to ensure its survival within Community agriculture?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

The Commission can confirm that it is aware of the special circumstances facing the growers of sugar cane
in the south of Spain, which is indeed the only remaining continental region of the Community where this
agricultural product is cultivated.

Over the years since the accession of Spain in 1985, the common organisation of the markets in the sugar
sector has included measures aiming to facilitate the adjustment of
this cultivation to the specific
conditions in the Community where sugar beet is the predominant agricultural raw material for sugar
manufacture. Currently these measures consist of the possibility for the Spanish authorities to grant
national adjustment aid to the growers concerned, in accordance with Article 53 of Council Regulation
(EC) No 2038/1999 of 13 September 1999, on the common organisation of the market in the sugar
sector (1) during the six marketing years from 1 July 1995 to 30 June 2001.

the rules governing the Community(cid:146)s structural

In addition,
funds, currently laid down in Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 and Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 27 June 1999 laying
down general provisions on the structural funds (2) allow grant-aids to be awarded by the European
agricultural guidance and guarantee fund to alleviate the less-favourable situation in the cane growing area,
within the framework of approved programmes prepared by the Spanish authorities.