WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650/00 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. New data on the environmental risks of the Júcar-Vinalopó water diversion project (Valencia).
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, Structural Funds, environmental impact, hydraulic works, nature reserve, protection of animal life

C 136 E/66

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

(2001/C 136 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2649/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Building of a marina at Porto Rafti

According to complaints lodged by residents and environmental organisations in Porto Rafti, there are
plans to build a marina there extending from the bay of Agios Nikolaos to the east of the Pounda
peninsula.

Given that part of the building work is to be undertaken in a special habitat protected under Directive 92/
43/EEC (1), Annex I, will the Commission say:

1. whether it has any information available regarding the building of this marina?

2. whether it is providing any funding for the project and, if so, how much?

3. whether the requisite environmental impact assessment has been carried out and published in good

time, as provided for in Directive 85/337/EEC (2)?

4. what steps it will take to prevent the building of the marina, should there prove to have been
infringements of the above directives, which represent both Community and Greek environmental
law?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

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

(18 October 2000)

Within the confines of subsidiarity the Commission only receives information as regards any environ-
mental impact study carried out, and its publication as part of a specific problem or complaint.

Moreover, according to the information in the Commission(cid:146)s possession, the site mentioned by the
Honourable Member is not covered by Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation
of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

If the Honourable Member has further information that is likely to constitute a complaint the Commission
would like to receive this in order to act accordingly.

So far the Commission has not received any request concerning any joint funding for the building of a
marina at Port Raft in Greece. According to the information in its possession moves have been made to
build that marina with private funding but the procedure is currently blocked by the Council of State.

(2001/C 136 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: New data on the environmental risks of the Jœcar-Vinalop(cid:243) water diversion project (Valencia)

In my Written Question E-0819/00 (1) I drew the Commission(cid:146)s attention to the serious environmental
risks posed by the Jœcar-Vinalop(cid:243) water diversion project for protected flora and fauna in the region.
Specifically, according to the most recent report by the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO), the work will
affect populations of European short-toed eagle, golden eagle, goshawk, Bonelli(cid:146)s eagle, booted eagle,
peregrine falcon, eagle owl and chough, which are protected under Annex I of Directive 79/409/EEC (2).

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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The SEO reports that construction of the project could lead to a decline in the above bird populations due
to the effects of dust, human activity, disturbance of the soil and partial deforestation, destruction of
breeding grounds and changes in river courses, all of which are considered exceptionally harmful for the
Albufera National Park (zone ZEPA 159), which takes water from the Jœcar (as explained in the previous
question).

A fresh report entitled (cid:145)Hydro-geological survey and rules for the exploitation of aquifers in the Caroig
area(cid:146), which may be consulted at the office of the Hydrographical Confederation of Jœcar, confirms the lack
of a water surplus, which was the justification used for constructing the planned water diversion channel.
This may mean that the current course of the project, running through the Caroig area, may in future need
to take water from underground sources to supply new developments along the Alicante coast which
already have a water deficit and will require even more water if they are expanded.

In its reply to my previous written question (dated 16 May 2000) the Commission stated that it was not
yet in a position to say whether the Jœcar-Vinalop(cid:243) water diversion project would receive financial support
from Community funds.

Is the Commission aware of the content of the above two reports?

Has the Commission already approved any type of aid for the work concerned?

How will the Commission guarantee that the birds referred to above and covered by the annexes to
Directive 79/409/EEC are protected?

What measures will the Commission take to ensure that the protected area of the Albufera National Park is
not affected?

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

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

(9 October 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the content of the two reports the Honourable Member refers to.

The Commission would point out that it is examining the environmental impact of the Jœcar-Vinalop(cid:243)
diversion project as part of its investigation of a complaint about the same matter.

The Commission has examined the situation reported by the complainant and by the Honourable Member.
It has approached the Spanish authorities for their comments on the project in question. It is requesting
comments on how Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1) is
being applied in this instance.

With regard to the new Structural Funds programming period, funding applications received in respect of
the Comunidad Valenciana (multifund operational programme and Cohesion Fund projects) make no
reference to the project the Honourable Member is referring to. This project would not, therefore, be
included in the initial programming for that region. Quite aside from this, the Commission will (cid:129) in
analysing both the programme and the projects, and before approving them (cid:129) take account of compliance
with the Community(cid:146)s environment legislation.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.