WRITTEN QUESTION P-2008/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Environmental risk and cleaning up the Milazzo industrial area.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sicily, industrial pollution, operational programme, polluter pays principle

C 103 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

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

(20 July 2000)

On the basis of the information available to the Commission, no major changes had been made to the
project (1) (airport infrastructure) since its approval in 1987 (at which time the directive was not applicable
in Member States). According to Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public
and private projects on the environment, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) could only be required
prior to certain developments of the airport infrastructure (2).

The transformation of Malpensa airport into a hub airport in 1993 did not result in infrastructure
modifications. An increase in air traffic in terms of passengers and goods cannot be considered as a
project under Directive 85/337/EEC and, consequently, does not need to be made the subject of an
environmental impact assessment.

Under Community law, it is not relevant whether Member States apply provisions of their internal law
which go beyond those of a Community directive, provided that they are not breaching other Community
laws.

(1)

(cid:145)project(cid:146) means (cid:145)the execution of construction works or of other
For the purposes of Directive 85/337/EEC,
installation or schemes; other interventions in the natural surroundings and landscape including those involving
the extraction of mineral resources(cid:146) (Article 1).

(2) Article 2.1 of Directive 85/337/EEC.

(2001/C 103 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2008/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Environmental risk and cleaning up the Milazzo industrial area

In its reply to Oral Question No 53 H-0356/00 (1), the Commission mentions that it is currently examining
(cid:145)the proposal for (an) Operational Programme for Sicily(cid:146), which allocates resources to provide for measures
to clean up industrial areas.

What is the time-scale envisaged for approval of that programme?

Has the Commission received proposals from the Italian regional or national authorities?

Can the Commission provide a more explicit definition of the (cid:145)polluter pays(cid:146) principle?

(1) Written answer of 16 May 2000.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2000)

The Commission is at the moment examining the operational programme for the Region of Sicily for
2000-2006 and will formally adopt it in the next few months.

Following approval the monitoring committee will adopt the programme complement. This will be the
basis for the action necessary for adoption of projects (calls for proposals). The proposals for specific
projects will have to be sent to the regional authorities responsible for programme management, who will
decide what projects to include.

The polluter-pays principle is that those who cause environmental damage bear the cost of avoiding it or
compensating for it. This means that reclamation of polluted sites should be financed by the polluters
insofar as they can be identified. Structural Fund contributions to site reclamation work have to take
account of this principle.