WRITTEN QUESTION E-1861/00 by Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (ELDR) to the Commission. Special protection zones for birds in the Valencian Autonomous Community.
Date: 2000-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, infringement of EU law, protection of animal life

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/135

Certain press releases are not translated into all eleven languages, namely those relating to company
mergers (FR/EN/DE + language of the Member State concerned), state aid and infringement proceedings
(FR/EN + language of the Member State concerned) and to the weekly timetable of Commission activities.

The Commission is not aware of any official government complaint about the languages used for press
releases.

(2001/C 72 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1861/00

by Carles-Alfred Gas(cid:242)liba i B(cid:246)hm (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 June 2000)

Subject: Special protection zones for birds in the Valencian Autonomous Community

The Valencian Autonomous Community has dragged its feet for years and years over setting-up the special
protection areas for birds (SPAB) established by the European Union.

At present, because the Commission itself has denounced the situation, the Valencian Government is
seeking to extend the surface area to be protected as special protection areas for birds to include areas
which are already protected, but even so, the protection provided for falls very far short of the European
Union(cid:146)s own criteria. The report drawn up by SEO-Birdlife for the Commission envisaged 736 637
hectares of Valencian territory coming under the special protection area heading, while the Valencian
Government is seeking to protect only 266 049 hectares.

Granting special protection area status in this way reduces the number of hectares protected, and leaves
areas of major importance such as the Marjal d(cid:146)Almenara, great swathes of the Alicante mountain range
and the mountain ranges of La Mar(cid:237)na and the ports of Morella and Beceit unprotected.

How does the Commission intend to ensure that the policy on protection and the granting of SPAB status
is complied with?

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

(19 July 2000)

The Commission does not know exactly how much of its territory the Council of the Autonomous
Community of Valencia intends to designate as a special protection area (SPA) for birds.

As the Honourable Member indicates, the Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against
Spain for failure to designate or insufficient designation of SPAs in the country as a whole, including the
Autonomous Community of Valencia. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will take all
the necessary measures to ensure that Community law is complied with throughout Spanish territory.

(2001/C 72 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1862/00

by Carles-Alfred Gas(cid:242)liba i B(cid:246)hm (ELDR) to the Council

Subject: Red tuna catches in DŁnia and Gand(cid:237)a

(13 June 2000)

In the fishing ports of DŁnia and Gand(cid:237)a French fishermen have been using nets several miles long to
capture red tuna for years now.

The catches of red tuna do not meet the authorised minimum weight of 60 kg, and no checks of any kind
are carried out.