WRITTEN QUESTION E-0400/01 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Routing of the Atlantic highway through Porriño.
Date: 2001-02-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental protection, impact study, motorway, protected area, road building

C 261 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Is there any reason other than the pressure brought to bear by Mrs de Palacio why the proceedings have
not been opened?

What progress has been made in the negotiations with the Spanish Government?

Has the Spanish Government indicated that it intends to amend the legal provisions governing CTC?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2001)

1.
In the case of the costs of transition to competition ((cid:145)CTC(cid:146)) arrangements in the Spanish electricity
sector, as in cases of stranded costs in electricity sectors in the other Member States, the Commission
thinks it more appropriate to await the judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-379/98 (1) before taking
any decision. The judgment was delivered on 13 March 2001. It still needs to be examined in detail from
the point of view of the assessment of stranded costs.

The progress consists in the fact that the Spanish authorities have taken note of a number of points

2.
put forward by the Commission in the context of its examination of the case.

3.
The Spanish authorities adopted a decree-law on 2 February 2001 amending in particular the sixth
transitional provision of Spanish Electricity Sector Act No 54/1997 of 27 November 1997. The new
decree-law contains two elements of importance to the Commission: first, the removal of the securitisation
and second, the fact that the CTC payments will no longer be funded by levies on imported electricity.

(1) PreussenElektra AG v. Schleswag AG.

(2001/C 261 E/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0400/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(15 February 2001)

Subject: Routing of the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146) through Porriæo

In its answer to my Written Question P-1736/00 (1), the Commission stated on 22 June 2000 that it had
decided to launch an investigation into the decision taken by the Spanish Ministry of Public Works and the
concessionaire enterprise to route the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146) through the district of Porriæo (Pontevedra, Spain)
close to the GÆndaras de Budiæo lagoon, an area proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network and
already included in the register of natural habitats in Galicia.

What results have been achieved by the abovementioned investigations?

What questions has the Commission asked the Spanish Government,
abovementioned question, and what replies has it received?

further to its answer to the

Is Community law being observed, in particular Council Directive 92/43/EEC (2) on the conservation of
natural habitats?

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001, p. 183.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

18.9.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/109

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

(5 April 2001)

In answer to the Written Question P-1736/00 by the Honourable Member, (1) the Commission reported
that it was not informed of the matters raised by the Honourable Member. Given that the area in question,
(cid:145)Gandaras de Budiæo,(cid:146) was proposed as an area of Community interest (ES 1140011) by the Spanish
authorities,
the Commission had decided to launch an own-initiative investigation of these matters,
requesting confirmation from the Spanish authorities that Community law is being observed in this
particular case.
It has to be said, though, that, the Commission(cid:146)s launching of an its own-initiative
investigation in this instance does not in any way mean that there has been a breach of Community law.
Thus, in this case, the Commission cannot reach a decision until it receives more information about this
project from the Spanish authorities.

On the basis of information given by the Honourable Member on the pre-mentioned Written Question,
the Commission has asked the Spanish authorities to comment on the matters raised; it has also asked
them for a copy of the environmental impact assessment on this project as well as a detailed description of
the types of habitats present in the area concerned.

The Commission has received a reply from the Spanish authorities regarding the project in question, which
is currently being examined.

However, it should be noted here and now that in their reply, the Spanish authorities point out that the
project has been subjected to an environmental impact assessment which declared it to be (cid:145)viable.(cid:146) They
also stress that even if the project does affect part of the area, the site itself is badly damaged and there are
no species and habitats on the site where the project is due to be carried out.

The Commission will ensure, no matter what happens, that the Community law applicable in this case is
observed.

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001, p. 183.

(2001/C 261 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0405/01

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(15 February 2001)

Subject: Compliance with the Angola-EU fisheries agreement

The government of Angola appears to be about to suspend the Angola-EU fisheries protocol, on the
grounds that the Commission has not paid the annual contribution referred to in the protocol and has not
complied with its condition concerning introduction of a (cid:145)satellite system(cid:146).

Given the serious political implications of suspension, as well as the adverse consequences for the fleets
fishing in Angolan waters, can the Commission provide detailed answers on the following points:

1.

the reasons for non-payment of the annual contribution and non-compliance with the condition
concerning introduction of a (cid:145)satellite system(cid:146)?

2.

the consequences of the above for relations with Angola?

3.

the implications for Member States(cid:146) fleets and the proposed means of dealing with this problem?