WRITTEN QUESTION E-4013/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Risk of destruction of cedar forest in Greece.
Date: 2000-12-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Greece, airport, deciduous tree, forest, impact study, protected area, protected species

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.

C 235 E/48

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

The second phase of the project, concerning construction as such, will probably be proposed by the Greek
authorities for part-financing under the Community support framework in 2000-2006. Since the Southern
Aegean OP has not yet been approved, no decision on the matter has so far been taken.

It should be remembered that the part-financing of this work is conditional on strict compliance with the
environmental conditions and any further obligations which might be imposed by the Greek authorities on
the basis of Community and national legislation.

(1) Decision of 29 April 1997, ref. KYA A11 83607.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 235 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4019/00

by Doris Pack (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: Discount systems operated by tour operators and air carriers

1.
The Commission announced an investigation into the discount systems operated by the various
European air carriers for discriminationatory elements. What was the result of the investigation? Were
systems such as Miles & More operated by Lufthansa in compliance with EU competition rules?

Do such fidelity discount systems serve as a tie to market dominant undertakings which constitutes

2.
a barrier to competition?

3.
Did the Commission examine the reduction in the commission paid by European air carriers to travel
agents in the light of the dominant position of those carriers and as discrimination against and exploitation
of travel agents? What was the outcome of these investigations?

4.
Does the Commission not consider the reduction in basic commission from 9 to 5 %, i.e. a reduction
in travel agencies(cid:146) ticket sales commission income by some 45 % for internal and European flights to be
discrimination or exploitation, especially where the carriers are market- dominant undertakings?

5.
The various incentive programmes run by the air carriers induce effects which are harmful to
competition. Have these programmes been investigated by the Commission? What were the findings?
What will the Commission do, if appropriate, to remedy the damage caused by incentive programmes?

6. What was the outcome of the Commission(cid:146)s examination of the increased participation of (national)
air carriers in international or global alliances? Do these alliances lead to agreements on fares, conditions,
timetables and services?

7. What does the Commission intend to do on the basis of its findings to prohibit alliances which
restrict competition, especially where these activities by airlines massively effect competition?

Has the EU directive been adequately transposed into national law in all Member States? If not, in

8.
which Member States has transposition been inadequate or not happened at all?

9.
Is the Commission aware of any abuse in relation to the mandatory insolvency insurance for tour
operators? Is there any information in this connection to indicate that in insolvency cases service providers
(hotels, air carriers, coach companies, service brokers, etc.) have submitted inflated bills? What will the
Commission do to abolish such abuses especially as in the final analysis the cost is passed on to the
consumer via higher insurance premiums?