WRITTEN QUESTION E-0831/01 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Toxic waste in the port of Patras.
Date: 2001-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, harbour installation, infringement of EU law, toxic substance, transport of dangerous goods, waste management

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/45

representatives of these Member States in the Council amend the definition of raw milk as it stands in their
current draft. Their aim is to provide the consumer with full information on the treatments used in milk.

This approach could include a proposal to use labelling similar to that used for milk which has undergone
treatment, such as the (cid:145)pasteurised milk(cid:146) classification which is today easily identifiable and
heat
understood by the consumer.

(2001/C 350 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0831/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 March 2001)

Subject: Toxic waste in the port of Patras

A shipment of 100 tonnes of hazardous and toxic liquid waste produced by the Greek arms industry was
stopped on 23 January 2001 at the port of Patras because the port commission and the Central Port
Authority of Patras rightly refused to allow the loading of such a dangerous cargo owing to the lack of
facilities required for that particular operation.

The toxic waste was bound for a disposal plant in Germany by way of Italy, though at present where it is
stored remains a mystery.

In view of the fact that:

(cid:129) according to reliable information, shipments of toxic waste have been effected in the past without

observance of the applicable legal provisions and safeguards,

(cid:129) the port of Patras does not have adequate facilities for handling toxic waste and there are, therefore,

inherent public health and environmental hazards in any attempt to load such material,

(cid:129) Commission Decision 94/774/EC (1), concerning the supervision and control of shipments within the
Community, requires the use of a standard consignment note for the notification and tracking of
shipments of waste, as provided by Regulation (EEC) 259/93 (2),

(cid:129) Greece is in breach of Community legislation on the disposal and management of waste,

will the Commission say:

1. where the hazardous waste is stored in Greece;

2. where it is recycled (the Greek authorities claimed to have recycled 95 760 tonnes in Greece despite

having no waste reprocessing plants);

3. how many shipments of such cargos have taken place, during which periods and in what quantities,

and whether Community provisions are observed in relation to those shipments; and

4. what steps it will take to deal effectively with the current situation arising from the presence of toxic

waste in the port of Patras and to avoid any similar occurrence in the future?

(1) OJ L 310, 3.12.1994, p. 70.
(2) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993, p. 1.

C 350 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

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

(6 June 2001)

From the information provided by the Honourable Member it would appear that the shipment from
Greece to Germany (via Italy) of the waste in question has not taken place as it was prevented from leaving
the port of Patras due to the lack of facilities for the operation. In view of this, it would not appear that
Council Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 of 1 February 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of
waste within, into and out of the Community (1) is material at this stage.

As far as the storage of the liquid toxic waste is concerned, the Commission has no information as to its
whereabouts or management, as under the Community system of waste management,
there is no
obligation to inform the Commission of all particular incidents.

It is the role of Member States to ensure a correct implementation of their Community Law obligations in
particular pertaining to the environmentally sound management of their waste, as prescribed notably under
the Directive on Waste, Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 amending Directive 75/442/EEC
on waste (2).

it

If
transpires that Greece has failed to comply with this obligation (and to establish this, more
information and evidence would be required), it is open to the Honourable Member or to any other person
concerned to file a complaint with the Commission.

(1) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.

(2001/C 350 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0836/01

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: Hive-off of Major Repairs Shop in San Nicola (Melfi)

The company Trenitalia S.p.A. of the FS Group (Italian state railways) has decided, without the consent of
the national and local social partners, to hive off the Major Repairs Shop in San Nicola di Melfi, a factory
which repairs low-power diesel engines and switching locomotives and whose infrastructure is one of the
newest and most technologically advanced of those of the (cid:145)Rolling Stock Technologies(cid:146) unit.

Some work orders are currently being diverted to the sister repair shop in Rimini, whilst others are being
blocked in the various factories belonging to Trenitalia(cid:146)s customers.

The factory in question was perhaps the only one which constructively complied with all Community
regulations, also in the field of environmental protection.

Its closure has led to the loss of 200 jobs in the region and has greatly damaged the economy of an area in
which there is already a great deal of unemployment.

It would also appear that no private company is able to repair this kind of engine at such low costs as
those achieved by the Melfi factory, with the same guarantee of quality.

Can the Commission say what measures it intends to take, in collaboration with the Italian Government, to
help bring about a positive outcome to this affair?