WRITTEN QUESTION E-1442/01 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Plant for the production of refuse-derived fuel in Gallicano (Lucca), Italy.
Date: 2001-05-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Italy, environmental impact, fuel, waste recycling

C 364 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

2.

The Council does not have the statistical data requested by the Honourable Member.

3. and 4.
The Council would inform the Honourable Member that, with the entry into force of the
Treaty of Amsterdam, questions regarding immigration, visas and asylum fall within Community
competence pursuant to Title IV of the TEC. It is therefore the task of the Commission, as the guardian
of the Treaties, to check whether Member States fulfil their obligations in these matters.

(2001/C 364 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1442/01

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Plant for the production of refuse-derived fuel in Gallicano (Lucca), Italy

A plant for the production of refuse-derived fuel in Gallicano (Lucca) was co-financed by the Structural
Funds (Objective 5b), despite the fact that the environmental impact of such plants is very significant,
particularly in the area in question which is of great natural and cultural importance. It is clear that setting
up such plants, in an area where recycling and separate collection of waste is very low, does not fit within
the Community policy on waste management.

In general, does the Commission assess only the compliance of projects with Community legislation or
also with the relevant priorities as set out in Community policies?

How does the Commission make sure that Article 6 of
environmental protection integrated into other EU policies on a real and regular basis?

the Treaty is properly implemented and

Is the Commission aware that if co-financing is granted whenever there is formal compliance with the
relevant environmental legislation, but despite this, the environmental impact of a project is significant,
this seriously aggravates environmental degradation?

Does the Commission agree that eligible projects must be selected not only for compliance with existing
legislation but also on the basis of specific policy guidelines and a number of other crucial aspects, not
least whether it is appropriate to set up certain kinds of industrial plants in particular areas?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2001)

In the Structural Funds programming process, the national and regional authorities submit a regional
development or conversion plan to the Commission. The plan puts forward the development priorities for
the areas and sectors concerned according to the various Objectives. The Commission assesses the plan
and negotiates with the competent authorities a programming document in the form of a multi-annual
operational programme (OP) or Single Programming Document (SPD).

In assessing the plan and in the negotiation of programmes, the Commission verifies, inter alia, that the
development strategy and the outline of priorities and measures comply with Community environmental
legislation and policy, including the integration of the environmental protection requirements into the
sectoral priorities in a sustainable development perspective. Concerning the waste measures in particular,
projects receiving Structural Fund assistance must be consistent with the regional and local waste
management plans established in conformity with Community directives and policy on waste.

In keeping with article 6 (ex Article 3c) of the EC Treaty,
in the 2000-2006 programming period the
integration of the environmental dimension within the Structural Funds has been further enhanced by the
inclusion of an environmental ex-ante evaluation, which provides a basis for preparing the plans and
programmes of which it shall form part.

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/113

Once the Commission approves the OP or SPD, it is the responsibility of the competent authorities to
implement it. According to the Structural Funds regulations (1), the selection of projects is within the
discretion of
those projects with
Community legislation and policies.

they have to ensure compliance of

those authorities. However,

As far as the refuse-derived fuel plant in Gallicano (Lucca) is concerned, the regional authorities responsible
for Objective 5b during the 1994-1999 programming period, provide evidence that the project was
selected in conformity with the criteria for Measure 6.1 of the SPD (cid:145)Interventi per l(cid:146)organizzazione
della raccolta, recupero ed innocuizzazione dei rifiuti di risulta da attivit(cid:224) produttive(cid:146).

Moreover, it appears that this plant fits with the waste management plan, which has been established in
conformity with Community directives and policy on waste, and it has been duly authorised as required by
Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste (2).

Given the plant owner(cid:146)s request to increase the capacity above 100 tons/day, the project is currently
impact assessment in conformity with Council Directive 85/337/EC of
undergoing an environmental
27 June 1985 on the assessment of
the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environnment (3), as modified by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (4).

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(3) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(4) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2001/C 364 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1445/01

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(11 May 2001)

Subject: Quebec agreement and relations between the EU and Latin America

A few days ago an agreement was signed in Quebec for the purpose of setting up a huge free-trade
area encompassing all the countries of the American continent.

Could the Commission say what effect the agreement may have on the political and trade relations
between the European Union and America?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2001)

The Quebec Summit of the Americas of April 2001 did not lead to an acceleration of the integration
process of the Americas, but rather confirmed the Declaration made by the Trade Ministers of 34 countries
participating in the negotiations of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) at their meeting in Buenos
Aires in April 2001 to ensure that negotiations of the FTAA Agreement are concluded no later than
January 2005 and that the Agreement enters into force no later than December 2005.

The FTAA negotiations aim to further liberalise trade within the Western hemisphere by reducing barriers
to trade and investment in order to generate economic growth and prosperity in the region. The Buenos
Aires Ministerial Declaration emphasises the commitment of the participating countries to an open and
balanced trading system and prevention of further barriers to trade and investment to countries outside the
Western Hemisphere.

The Commission generally is not opposed to regional
initiatives which aim to achieve further trade
liberalisation as long as they comply with the internationally agreed rules of the World Trade Organisation,
are mutually supportive to the global trading system and do not lead to the imposition of any new barriers
to trade with other countries.