WRITTEN QUESTION E-3620/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Wind farm in a protected area on Syros.
Date: 2000-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Southern Aegean, environmental impact, environmental law, impact study, power plant, protected area, protection of animal life, wind energy

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/21

(2001/C 187 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3616/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Fine imposed on Greece

Further to the Commission(cid:146)s response on 16 October to my Question (P-2843/00) (1) regarding the fine
imposed on Greece:

1.

Is the daily penalty payment due with effect from the judgment of 7 April 1992 or the judgment of
4 July 2000?

2. Has the Commission now sent a letter to the Greek authorities setting out the conditions? If not, why

not?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 107.

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

(9 February 2001)

In its judgment dated 4 July 2000 (1) the Court of Justice ordered Greece to pay into the Commission(cid:146)s
(cid:145)EC own resources(cid:146) account a fine of € 20 000 for each day(cid:146)s delay in taking the action needed in order to
comply with the Commission/Greece judgment of 7 April 1992 dating from the handing down of that
judgment, and up to compliance therewith. Therefore Greece must pay the daily fine of € 20 000 as of
4 July 2000.

the Commission sent a letter

As required by the existing rules (2)
to the Greek authorities on
20 October 2000, asking them to pay, by the latest, at the end of the second month following receipt of
the letter, € 1 760 000, an amount representing the daily fine of € 20 000 due for July-September 2000.
Moreover the Commission announced in its letter to the Greek authorities that it would send a letter each
month requesting payment of the amount of the fine for the current month. A new letter was sent to the
Greek authorities on 9 November 2000 requesting that € 620 000 be paid, this representing the amount
due for October 2000.

(1) Case C-387/97.
(2) Decision of 14 December 1994 on the provisions of the internal procedure for recovering lump sums or fines

imposed by the Court of Justice in pursuance of Article 171 of EC Treaty.

(2001/C 187 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3620/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Wind farm in a protected area on Syros

In the Mount Syringa area of north west Syros, which is included in the Natura 2000 Network (Priority B)
and is included in the European Corine Biotopes list, the Aegean Regional Administration and the Prefect
for the Cyclades, with funding under the second CSF, are planning to construct a group of four wind
powered turbines each 60 metres high, producing 2,64 MW. Environmental organisations and the local
population have made representations expressing their concern over the disastrous effect the project would
have on protected resident and migratory birds in the area and the damage to the landscape.

However desirable wind powered electricity generation may be, it should not be at the expense of sensitive
and important protected areas.

1. Does the Commission intend to intervene to have these wind turbines located in other parts of the

island where there would be no environmental impact?

2. Have any studies been carried out into the siting and installation of this plant?

C 187 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

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

(30 January 2001)

Mount Syringa in Syros is part of the area that the Greek authorities nominated for inclusion in the Natura
2000 network under Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild
fauna and flora (1). As such,
it is important to protect the area from commercial activities that may
undermine its conservation value. However, despite its importance for the local and migratory bird
population, this area is not listed as a special protection area under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of
2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (2) and does not fulfil the ornithological criteria to be listed.

An environment impact assessment must be carried out for the project and alternative solutions must be
looked into.

In this context, and on the basis of data submitted by the Honourable Member, the Commission will
contact the Greek authorities to ascertain whether the impact assessment for the project in question fully
took into account the site nominated for the Natura 2000 network and alternative solutions.

The project in question was selected by the Greek authorities for co-financing under measure 3.2 of the
Energy Operational Programme of the Community Support Framework for the period 1994-1999. This
programme was set up, inter alia, to co-finance energy projects in the private sector to develop wind
energy in Greece.

According to information received by the intermediary body responsible for the above-mentioned measure,
the project has not yet been carried out following a complaint lodged by a group of citizens to the Greek
government concerning the location of the wind turbines.

In line with the principle of subsidiarity, the Commission will not intervene concerning the location of
a public or private infrastructure in a Member State, provided that Community legislation on environ-
mental and other aspects is respected. Moreover, again for reasons of subsidiarity, the Commission is not
always informed of the location of projects, but it contacts national authorities when third parties bring to
its attention infringements of Community law.

The Commission has not carried out any studies on the siting of wind turbines. Information is, however,
available from the Greek authorities who have had several studies carried out into the most suitable sites in
terms of energy yield.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2001/C 187 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3633/00

by Marco Cappato (TDI) to the Council

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Report on Directive 95/46/EC and its possible revision

Article 33 of Directive 95/46/EC (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data reads:
(cid:145)The Commission shall report to the Council and the European Parliament at regular intervals, starting not
later than three years after the date referred to in Article 32(1), on the implementation of this Directive,
attaching to its report, if necessary, suitable proposals for amendments. The report shall be made public.
The Commission shall examine, in particular, the application of this Directive to the data processing of
sound and image data relating to natural persons and shall submit any appropriate proposals which prove
to be necessary, taking account of developments in information technology and in the light of the state of
progress in the information society.(cid:146)