WRITTEN QUESTION E-2441/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Possible infringement of Council directive 92/43/EEC on the preservation of natural habitats.
Date: 2000-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, catering industry, environmental protection, impact study, protected area, protection of animal life, protection of plant life

C 81 E/200

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Does the Commission believe that the almost 3 million inhabitants of Galicia should have no alternative, at
a time when the (cid:145)single European sky(cid:146) project is being developed, than either to bow to Porto(cid:146)s ambitions,
with its airport only one hour from Vigo and two from Santiago, or to put up with the absurd
centralisation of air traffic in Madrid? What are the political and business reasons preventing Galicia
from having its own international airport in Santiago itself, capable of meeting present and future needs?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2000)

Since 1 January 1993, Community air carriers are entirely free to establish the air services they consider as
commercially meaningful between any Community airport open to commercial operations.

The capability of an individual Community airport to develop direct air links to destinations in other
Member States depends on factors determining its commercial potential and on its capacity to draw the
attention of potential operators to such possibilities.

(2001/C 81 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2441/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Subject: Possible infringement of Council directive 92/43/EEC on the preservation of natural habitats

Situated between Barreiro and Ribadeo in Galicia, the Catedrais coastal area was put forward by the
Spanish Government for inclusion in the Natura 2000 European network, thus turning it into a natural
area under general protection.

This logically implies taking a preventive attitude towards the setting up of any establishments which by
their nature are not
the beach and the surrounding
environment.

in tune with the environmental purpose of

It is a fact that the Xunta de Galiza(cid:146)s Environment Quality Service did not draw up the report required for
issuing the licence to open a bar and restaurant requested in March 1999.

Is the Commission aware of this behaviour on the part of the Galician Government, and does it intend to
carry out the requisite enquiries and take steps to punish this infringement of Council Directive 92/43/
EEC (1) on the preservation of natural habitats?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

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

(7 September 2000)

The Commission was not aware of the case the Honourable Member is referring to. Issuing a licence for
the opening of a bar and restaurant on a site proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network is a
matter for the national authorities.

On the basis of the summary information supplied by the Honourable Member, the Commission has no
reason to suspect that the project in question is likely to have a significant impact. Only if the opposite
were the case could the provisions of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora be brought into play.