WRITTEN QUESTION E-2743/00 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Sewage plant in Sarroch, Sardinia.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Sardinia, water treatment

C 174 E/8

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Based both on the scientific information available and on other relevant considerations (notably the lack of
suitable testing methods for phthalate migration, the sensitive group of the population exposed and the
uncertainties regarding other sources of exposure to phthalates), the Commission has concluded that a ban
on these substances is justified in the specific case of childcare articles and toys intended for mouthing by
babies under three. Some Member States and Parliament itself have taken the view that an even broader
ban is necessary. In particular, Parliament requested, in July 2000, its extension to all phthalates and all
toys for babies under three years of age. This request goes far beyond the provisions of the existing
Commission decision.

As far as the potential hazards of mobile telephones are concerned, the attention of the Honourable
Member is drawn to Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC on the limitation of exposure of the general
public to electromagnetic fields (0 HZ to 300 GHZ) (1). That Recommendation sets basic restrictions and
reference levels that the Member States should apply in order to ensure adequate health protection of the
whole population, including children, against electromagnetic radiation.

These levels of health protection set by the Council Recommendation were obtained by the application of
safety factors to the limits of exposure to the electromagnetic fields. These safety factors made it possible,
as part of a precautionary approach, to address long term effects for which there is currently no scientific
certainty. The Council Recommendation will be reviewed in 2004, or earlier, if validated new scientific
evidence of risk emerges for consideration by the scientific steering committee.

The Commission would point out that, under the provisions of the Treaty concerning health protection, it
endeavours to promote the development of a strict health protection policy for citizens. Accordingly, it
supports,
inter alia, a number of studies designed to produce further advances in knowledge on the
potential and actual effects on health of the use of electromagnetic radiation. These studies should take
account of, among other things, any developments in scientific knowledge in this area that are scientifically
validated.

In addition, mobile phones are covered by Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of
9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recogni-
tion of their conformity (2). This Directive, in conjunction with Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February
1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use
within certain voltage limits (3), includes essential safety requirements applicable to radiation.

In October 2000, the Commission gave a standardisation mandate to the European standardisation bodies
to establish, within the framework of these directives, specific standards applicable to mobile phones,
taking into account the exposure limit levels in the Council Recommendation 1999/5/EC. Any specific
protection needs will be considered within the framework in which European harmonised standards are
developed.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.
(2) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.
(3) OJ L 77, 26.3.1973.

(2001/C 174 E/007)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2743/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Sewage plant in Sarroch, Sardinia

In 1993 the region of Sardinia delegated responsibility to the municipality of Sarroch for building a
sewage treatment plant at Perd(cid:146)e Sali Porto Columbu with funding from the Envireg Community
programme (1). After the project had been assigned to a firm (2), the work was suspended on 26 February

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/9

1996 for an expert(cid:146)s report to be drawn up on relocating the sewage plant, because the engineer
responsible for the planning of the project had failed to take into account the fact that there was still
housing in the vicinity of the proposed site. Once the survey had been approved (3), the contractors refused
to resume work, prompting the municipality of Sarroch to cancel the contract (4). The work was then
entrusted to another firm, which built the sewage plant at the new location indicated in the report, above
the user sector, close to the sea, in the only remaining unspoilt natural area of the municipality of Sarroch.

Although a letter was sent to the office of the Cagliari Public Prosecutor on 23 July 1997 asking it to
check the legality of the various authorisations for the construction work and compliance with the existing
laws on the environment, no measures have yet been taken.

At present, the sewage plant has been completely abandoned and is a target for vandalism. The sewage
problems of the area concerned have not been resolved and the area has been disfigured, jeopardising
possible tourist development.

Will the Commission investigate the legality of the management of the Community funds used for the
project? Does it not think that the recipients of the funding should compensate the European Union, since
the project concerned did not fulfil its objectives?

(1) Decision No 35/3 of 24 September 1993; delegation order DCGADA No 2557 of 8 October 1993.
(2) Municipal Council Decision No 365 of 25 November 1994.
(3) Municipal Council Decision No 328 of 8 November 1996, endorsed by the opinions of the Department of the
Environment and the Department of Public Education of the autonomous region of Sardinia and the office for the
protection of the artistic, architecture and historical heritage.

(4) Municipal Council Decision No 58 of 21 February 1997.

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2001)

Following the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question the Commission been in contact with the Italian Environ-
ment Ministry, responsible authority for the Envireg programme, for the purpose of having the matter
thoroughly investigated.

If the conclusions of the investigation so warrant, the Commission will be able under Article 24 of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 (1) amending Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 laying
down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities
of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment
Bank and the other existing financial instruments), to call for exclusion of the project from the Envireg
programme and recovery of sums already paid out under it.

(1) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2001/C 174 E/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Torture in Turkish prisons

Bearing in mind:

(cid:129) the likelihood that Turkey will become a member of the European Union,

(cid:129) the importance of the Copenhagen Criteria in the enlargement process, particularly the provisions

concerning respect for human rights and