WRITTEN QUESTION E-4162/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The Vic-Olot road axis.
Date: 2001-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, EU law, Spain, eligibility criteria, environmental impact, impact study, road network, trans-European network, transport infrastructure, transport safety, tunnel

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/83

In view of the above and, in particular, the fact that, given its nature and scale, the project must be
considered as subject to the provisions of Directives 85/337/EC (1) and 97/11/EC (2), Class 10(b), will the
Commission:

1. Check whether the procedure followed by the Rome Municipality was acceptable?

2.

State its position on this matter?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

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

(20 February 2001)

As regards the general issue concerning car parks under the Community legislation on environmental
impact assessment (Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment, as modified by Council Directive 97/11/EC, of
3 March 1997), the Honourable Member is kindly requested to refer to previous answers given by the
Commission to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Questions E-2858/99 (1) and 243/00 (2).

As regards the specific case, information given by the Honourable Member is not sufficient to demonstrate
that the car park project mentioned is an urban development project under Annex II of Directive 85/337/
EEC, which is applicable to this case, and, therefore, that the specific project is covered by the Community
legislation on environmental impact assessment.

Therefore, on the basis of the information given by the Honourable Member, due to a lack of grounds of
complaint on the application of Community law, no breach of it can be identified at present.

(1) OJ C 303 E, 24.10.2000.
(2) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000.

(2001/C 235 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4162/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: The Vic-Olot road axis

The (cid:145)Vic-Olot axis(cid:146) road project in the north-east of Spain is causing concern to large sections of the
population and most of the political groups in the Autonomous Region of Catalonia.

The reasons for this concern are:

1. The environmental and socio-economic impact in the district of Garrotxa in the province of Gerona;

2. The legality of the process for dealing with the project, the fact that the initial project is split into
three parts, the environmental impact study carried out and the project(cid:146)s compatibility with Council
Directives 92/43/EEC (1)
(environmental
impact);

(wild birds) and 97/11/EC (3)

(habitats), 79/409/EEC (2)

3. The fact that the project is being (cid:145)sold(cid:146) as part of the (cid:145)Catalonia transverse axis(cid:146) (C-25), although this is

a completely different project.

Does a road have to form part of the Trans-European Road Network in order to qualify for Cohesion
funding? Is a general application sufficient to obtain Cohesion funding or is it necessary to specify what
project the funding is for? Is the European administration aware of the fact that the Vic-Olot axis, whose
code number is C-37, is different from the (cid:145)Catalonia transverse axis(cid:146), whose code number is C-25? Does
the (cid:145)Catalonia transverse axis(cid:146) (the LØrida-Vic-Girona road link) form part of the Trans-European Road
Network? And does the Vic-Olot axis? Has Cohesion funding been requested for the Manlleu-Torell(cid:243)
section of the Vic-Olot axis? If so, is the European administration aware of the environmental impact study
carried out on the project and whether it complies with Directive 85/337/EEC (4)?

C 235 E/84

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Is there any new European legislation governing tunnels, in view of the accident which took place in the
Mont Blanc tunnel in the Alps? Is so, is it possible to have access to it?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.
(4) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

In accordance with Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July
1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (1), the road
link between LØrida, Vic and Gerona forms part of this network.

An environmental impact statement was carried out for the section in question and did not identify any
negative impact.

The Cohesion Fund part-finances projects belonging to the trans-European transport networks and, in
certain cases and under certain conditions, to the regional connections to these networks. To benefit from
aid under this Fund, the Member State has to submit a specific request including the precise location of the
project and its main technical features. To date, the Commission has received no request for part-financing
from the Cohesion Fund for the Vic-Olot section.

There is currently no European legislation on the safety of tunnels. During the coming months the
Commission will look at the rules in force in the Member States and, if necessary, propose measures at
Union level.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2001/C 235 E/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0004/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Increase in the capacity of the Yesa Reservoir

(17 January 2001)

As part of its new water-resources management plan, the Spanish Government is aiming to increase the
capacity of the Yesa Reservoir, in the province of Huesca on the River Arag(cid:243)n. This reservoir, if expanded,
will inundate an additional 4804 ha and cost ESP 37 000 million (€ 222,37 million).

The plan to increase the capacity of the Yesa reservoir has been widely contested by a wide range of
stakeholders. A call for tender for the project has been issued, but it is currently subject to administrative
appeal on the grounds of serious irregularities in the handling of the Environmental Impact Assessment
procedure.

Can the European Commission confirm that the project will flood a large part of the Foz de Sig(cid:252)es,
protected by Decree 85/1990 of the Regional Government of Aragon, as it includes 69 ha of riparian
vegetation deemed to be of outstanding ecological
interest and which should be protected under the
Habitats Directive? What measures has the Commission taken to guarantee protection of the environment,
the fauna and the flora of this area? Is the list of habitat sites of Community importance for the region of
Aragon proposed to date fully satisfactory?

Can the Commission confirm that irregularities have occurred in the handling of the Environment Impact
Assessment procedure under EU legislation? What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that a proper
environmental impact assessment is carried out?