WRITTEN QUESTION E-3861/00 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Pollution of the River Segura (Spain) by nitrates.
Date: 2000-12-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, Region of Murcia, chemical salt, environmental monitoring, environmental standard, infringement of EU law, sanction (EU), water pollution, watercourse

C 187 E/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

It should also be noted that the Commission initiated another infringement procedure against Spain after
various problems of pollution were brought
to its attention through complaints and Parliamentary
questions following the failure to respect the provisions of the abovementioned Directive 76/464/EEC.
The pollution of the River Segura is covered by this procedure, under which the Commission has delivered
a reasoned opinion to Spain. This infringement procedure is still in progress.

The Commission is now examining the measures adopted by the Spanish authorities and notified by them
following the abovementioned condemnation by the Court of Justice. Among these measures mention
should be made of the adoption of hydrological basin plans for the inland waters concerned. Incidentally,
Law No 29/1985 on water was significantly amended in this context by Law No 46/1999. The Spanish
authorities have also forwarded a report from the Ministry for the Environment on programmes drawn up
to reduce pollution from the substances in List II referred to in Article 7 of Directive 76/464/EEC. They
have also notified the Commission of the adoption of Royal Decree 995/2000 of 2 June (cid:145)por el que se fijan
objetivos de calidad para determinadas sustancias contaminantes(cid:146)(setting quality objectives for certain
dangerous substances).

Whatever the situation, in its role as the guardian of the Treaties and with the instruments at its disposal
the Commission will take the necessary measures to ensure that Community law governing this particular
matter is observed.

(1) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976.
(2) OJ L 291, 24.10.1983.
(3) OJ L 274, 17.10.1984.
(4)

Judgment of 25.11.1998. Case C-214/96.

(2001/C 187 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3861/00

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Subject: Pollution of the River Segura (Spain) by nitrates

As its flows through the Autonomous Regions of Valencia and Murcia the basin of the River Segura is
seriously polluted with nitrates, affecting both groundwater and surface water, as ascertained by studies
carried out in connection with the Spanish Government(cid:146)s White Paper on Water, owing to the intensive
use of agricultural fertilisers, which means that 44 880 tonnes of nitrates are discharged into the river each
year. The volume of the river is not great enough to absorb this quantity of pollutants,
leading to
eutrophication which substantially jeopardises water quality.

Does the Commission not consider that Spain is infringing Council Directive 75/440/EEC (1)
1.
concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the
Member States?

2.
Has Spain designated the Segura basin as a (cid:145)vulnerable zone(cid:146) in accordance with Article 3(2) of
Council Directive 91/676/EEC (2) concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates
from agricultural sources (subsequently referred to as the (cid:145)Nitrates Directive(cid:146))?

If the Segura river basin has been designated as a vulnerable zone, has Spain drawn up and submitted

3.
action programmes in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of the Nitrates Directive?

4.

Do the action programmes meet the requirements of the Nitrates Directive?

5. What measures does the Commission intend to take, bearing in mind that the Court of Justice in
Luxembourg has already delivered judgements against Spain for its failure to comply with the Nitrates
Directive?

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 26.
(2) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1.

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/71

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

(27 February 2001)

The Commission is aware that the Segura basin is contaminated by an excess of nitrates, caused principally
by intensive agricultural practices, including pig-farming or some types of fruit and vegetable production.
The Segura basin authority has named three sites in the region of Valencia and eight in the region of
Murcia where nitrates in surface water regularly exceed the level of 50 milligrams/litre (mg/l). In ground-
water, seven aquifers exceed altogether or locally 50 mg/l in the Murcia region (which covers 95 % of the
Segura basin).

While the region of Valencia recently officially designated these areas as vulnerable and published an
action programme (31 January 2000), however, the region of Murcia in its official bulletin of 11 January
2000 stated that there were no problems connected with agricultural nitrates on its territory.

Having come across similar shortcomings in several regions of Spain, the Commission is currently looking
into the question. An earlier procedure dealing with the lack of action programmes led to the condemna-
tion of Spain by the Court of Justice (1) in April 2000. Finally, within the context of the rural development
plans, Spain is bound to designate all its vulnerable areas before the end of 2001, failing which the
Commission may contemplate suspending Community aid.

(1) Case C-274/98, Court Reports p. I-2823.

(2001/C 187 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3862/00

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Subject: Opening up of third-country markets

The European Union has adopted a series of measures aimed at liberalising imports of 65 categories of
textile products and clothing from other member countries of the World Trade Organisation, with a view
to completing Stage 3 of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

In conjunction with these measures it has started negotiations with third countries to ensure that their
markets are opened up further and hence bring about a better balance in trade between the EU and third
countries.

Can the Commission specify what measures have been proposed to achieve this aim?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

In proposing to Council the list of products to be integrated in the Third Stage of Integration under the
World trade organization (WTO) Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), the Commission took the line
that due to the absence of improved market access for Community textiles and clothing exports in third
countries, third stage liberalisation should not go beyond the legal requirements of the ATC. Therefore,
a number of quotas on the most sensitive products, have been retained whilst envisaging the possibility for
further liberalisation in exchange for better access to third countries textiles clothing markets.

In order to address the issue of lack of market access, the Council simultaneously adopted negotiating
directives for the Commission to hold bilateral market access negotiations with third countries, on
a mutually beneficial basis. Such talks could lead to improved market access to the Community market
for third countries, going beyond the content of the third stage liberalisation, on a bilateral basis.