WRITTEN QUESTION P-4012/00 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Spanish water resources plan.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, environmental policy, hydrology, sustainable development

C 235 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(19 February 2001)

The Commission is aware of the numerous changes which are taking place in the rail transport sector, as
a result of national and European legislation. In particular, the changes introduced in the structure of
existing companies and the establishment of new companies can lead to operations which could raise
questions about the application of competition rules, including State aid, in particular where the market is
increasingly opened up to competition at the European level.

Following notifications from Member States the Commission has already examined certain aids in the rail
freight sector and is, for the time being, verifying, for example, certain national financing schemes for
combined transport operations.

The Commission does not systematically examine the annual accounts of national rail transport companies
and could in any case rely on reports made by the Courts of Auditors supervising these accounts and the
use of taxpayers(cid:146) money. The recently adopted railway package (1) will probably lead to further structural
changes, which will be closely monitored by the Commission, especially in order to guarantee a fair and
non-discriminatory access to the railway network. The monitoring mechanism of the European railway
market, established by the new Directives (1), should help the Commission to obtain on a regular basis the
information and to detect anomalies. In addition, the opening of the railway market may also lead to more
complaints from the actors.

The Commission also draws attention to its proposals (2) under discussion in the Council and the
Parliament on State aids to inland transport and on public service contracts, aimed at creating more
transparency in the way the Member States intervene in the railway sector.

(1) Proposals COM(98) 480; OJ C 321, 20.10.1998.
(2) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.

(2001/C 235 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4012/00

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

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Spanish water resources plan

Spain(cid:146)s draft national water resources plan does not appear to pay great heed to the aims laid down in the
framework Directive on water policy, namely sustainable use of water and maintenance of the ecological
and environmental quality of water systems, avoiding the deterioration caused by the construction and
operation of large dams. In addition, it will affect a great many special conservation areas for birds and
species covered by Annex II to the Habitats Directive, in particular the otter and the pardel lynx.

In the light of the short-term goals for 2004 to 2006, as charted in the Directive:

(cid:129) how will the Commission ensure that the Spanish water resources plan conforms to the above

objectives?

(cid:129) how will it ensure that the plan is consistent with the framework Directive on water policy?

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/47

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

(1 February 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answers to Oral Questions H-843/00 (1) and
H-904/00 (2) put by Mrs Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez at question time during Parliament(cid:146)s November and December
sessions, respectively.

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (November 2000).
(2) Debates of the European Parliament (December 2000).

(2001/C 235 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4013/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Risk of destruction of cedar forest in Greece

(21 December 2000)

There is a serious risk that a thousand-year-old cedar forest in the vicinity of Ayios Ioannis on the Greek
island of Milos will be destroyed owing to plans to build a new airport in the area. This particular forest,
which was designated a sensitive ecosystem under the Union(cid:146)s Natura 2000 programme, is home to rare
species of wildlife and contains an estimated 1500-2000 rare wild cedars.

Is the Commission aware that the cedar forest on Milos is under threat of destruction through the

1.
building of the new airport?

2. What steps will the Commission take to ensure that this particular ecosystem is not destroyed?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2001)

The airport runway on the island of Milos in the southern Aegean is too short and badly oriented in terms
of the prevailing winds, resulting in frequent flight cancellations, to the detriment of economic activity.

In view of the importance of normal air links for the development of the island, the Greek authorities
selected the project of the construction of a new runway near Agios Ioannis and included it under measure
2.6 of the Southern Aegean operational programme (OP) for 1994-1999.

An environmental impact study on the project was carried out in 1995. The environmental terms laid
down by the Greek authorities (1) noted the presence of the trees mentioned by the Honourable Member
and imposed conditions for and restrictions on their felling. It should be noted that this species (family
Juniperus) is not protected by Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2) but forms part of the description of several types of habitats in
Annex I whose areas should be designated but where strict protection of the species is not provided for.

Implementation of the project has been delayed, mainly because a group of citizens opposed to the
expropriations referred the matter to the Greek Council of State on environmental grounds. By its
provisional decision 498/1998, the Council of State permitted continuation of preparatory work on the
project,
including the expropriation of land, and then, by its final decision 3271/2000, refused the
complainants(cid:146) application.

This meant the approximately € 5,3 million in part-financing provided in 1994-1999 related only to the
studies and to the costs of expropriations.