WRITTEN QUESTION E-3062/00 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Landfill at Garraf (Barcelona).
Date: 2000-10-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, domestic waste, infringement of EU law

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/227

In accordance with the last Community support framework (CSF), the aid in question was financed under
the Portuguese rural development plan. The plan for the period from 2000 to 2006, to be implemented
under the new CSF, also provided for aid. However, it has emerged that the Commission is preparing to
alter the rules governing the award of aid, reducing breed-related support in cases where the number of
females is below 1 000. What this basically means is that no more aid will be granted in respect of over
twenty indigenous breeds and 140 000 head of livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats). The resulting cut will
thus amount to some ESC 2 billion.

Is it true that the aid rules are to be altered as described above? If so, why has the Commission thought fit
to make this proposal? Does it not consider such a measure to be contrary to the principle of multi-
purpose farming and protection of high-quality production?

Is the Commission aware of the serious socio-economic consequences that the measure will entail for
hundreds of Portuguese producers and many rural regions in the Portuguese heartland?

Does the Commission not consider it preferable to pursue a policy to promote quality and regional
production that would grant a higher proportion of aid to small and medium-sized farmers instead of
reducing that aid to further the interests of intensive mass production?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 89 E/260)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3062/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 October 2000)

Subject: Landfill at Garraf (Barcelona)

The landfill at Garraf in the district of Gav(cid:224) i Begues (Barcelona) was established in 1972 and serves as a
tip for large-scale urban waste. It currently contains more than 20 million tonnes of refuse.

The landfill is located in a porous limestone massif and no measures were taken to make it watertight
when it was first installed. As a result, leachate infiltration has been polluting the groundwater for the last
28 years, reaching as far as the sea and phreatic level of the Delta del Llobregat, which has been designated
a site of special natural interest. The landfill is located within the nature park, which has been designated
an area of natural interest protected under a special plan for protection of the physical environment and
landscape of Garraf (PPMFENG). Article 28 of the law in force until last year stipulated that the dumping
of organic material should end on 31 December 1999.

On 6 April 2000, the biannual revision of the metropolitan municipal waste management programme
(PMGRM) was adopted, providing for the Garraf landfill to be used until 31 December 2006.

Both the revision of the PMGRM and the amendment of the PPMFENG failed to take account of Council
Directive 1993/31/EEC (1) on the landfill of waste, which must be transposed into the laws of the Member
States by 31 July 2001 (Article 18). It is therefore clear that the Garraf landfill will not meet the conditions
necessary for remaining open and will have to be closed (Annex 1, points 1, 2 and 3).

Furthermore the Garraf landfill is illegal in that is an industrial installation sited on land designated as
forestry land by the general metropolitan plan. In addition, it does not have an operating licence from the
GavÆ local authorities.

C 89 E/228

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 1 of Council Directive 91/561/EEC (2) of 18 March 1991 on waste are also
being infringed, as are the provisions of Directive 97/11/EC (3).

What steps will
directives?

the Commission take to ensure compliance with the abovementioned Community

(1) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 32.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

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

(12 October 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to her Written Question E-1866/00 (1).

(1) See p. 101.

(2001/C 89 E/261)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3148/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Use of Community funds

The Portuguese company Electro Moagem do Marco S.A., which has approximately 70 employees, has
been active for over 70 years in the food sector and is based in Marco de Canaveses (Portugal), an inland
region with little industrial development.

The company, which holds a quality certificate issued by the Portuguese Quality Institute in 1999, has
allegedly received a significant amount of Community funding for modernisation purposes. However, its
employees are not being paid at the moment and the company is threatened with bankruptcy.

Would the Commission provide the following information? Did Electro Moagem do Marco S.A. actually
receive Community funding? If so, how much? Has the use to which that funding was put been monitored,
with particular reference to the protection of jobs?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 89 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3149/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Application of Community funds

The Portuguese industrial company Preceram S.A., which is based in Pombal (Portugal) and is active in the
ceramics sector, still uses highly polluting manufacturing processes which, as illustrated in reports drawn