WRITTEN QUESTION P-1695/01 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Conservation reservoirs on the Aegean islands.
Date: 2001-06-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Aegean Islands, application of EU law, environmental impact, geology, hydraulic works, impact study, water management in agriculture

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/179

(2001/C 364 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1690/01

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

(6 June 2001)

Subject: Cohesion policy

On 31 January 2001 Mr Barnier, the Commissioner responsible for regional policy, submitted the second
report on social and economic cohesion to the European Parliament. The report provides an assessment of
the cohesion policy conducted since 1989 and prepares the ground for a debate on the future of that
policy in the context of an enlarged Union.

Although it would appear that, at macro-economic level, progress towards cohesion has been made over
the last 20 years,
it has to be acknowledged that, within most of the Member States, inequalities are
growing.

The outmost regions in general and the island of RØunion in particular do not seem to be experiencing the
kind of progress which is apparent in many European regions. RØunion still has a 37 % unemployment
rate and there are many young people amongst the jobless.

Even though enlargement is intended to anchor democracy even more firmly within Europe,
it will
undoubtedly have an impact on the EU(cid:146)s most fragile regions: simple arithmetic dictates that average per
capita GDP is going to fall, for which reason the regions which are currently eligible for Objective 1 (as is
the case with RØunion) may eventually lose that status on purely technical grounds.

Does the Commission therefore consider per capita GDP still to be an appropriate criterion?

Should per capita GDP not be supplemented by other, more objective criteria, such as the unemployment
rate?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2001)

The situation in the outermost regions is dealt with in the 2nd Report on Economic and Social
Cohesion (1). Its statistical annexes show that between 1988 and 1998 RØunion(cid:146)s GDP per head rose from
43 % to 50 % of the Community average.

Among the priorities of the future cohesion policy are regions with a geographical handicap, including the
outermost ones. The Report concludes that the criterion of GDP per head measured in terms of purchasing
power standards at NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) 2 level
remains fully
appropriate, as demonstrated in the comparative analysis in Part I.

The Commission has launched a wide-ranging debate on future cohesion policy, including the eligibility
criteria, and will in due time present proposals to the other Institutions.

It is clear that given its continuing low GDP per head RØunion will after enlargement still fall among the
least developed Community regions and thus qualify for structural support.

(1) COM(2001) 24 final.

(2001/C 364 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1695/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Conservation reservoirs on the Aegean islands

(6 June 2001)

One of the biggest problems facing the Aegean islands, especially during the summer months, is drought,
which has a severe economic and social impact. In view of this situation, an EU-funded programme has

C 364 E/180

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

been launched to build conservation reservoirs, which have been completed on some islands and are under
construction on others. However, local press reports and complaints from members of the public claim
that the construction is substandard and it is unclear whether environmental
impact assessments or
feasibility studies have been carried out.

Will the Commission say:

(cid:129) whether the allegations that no environmental impact assessments or feasibility studies have been

carried out in respect of these projects are true,

(cid:129) whether studies of

the subsoil

rock have been carried out

to determine the efficiency and

watertightness of the reservoirs,

(cid:129) whether there is any timetable for the construction of the reservoirs, and whether the projects are

running to schedule?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2001)

The projects to which the Honourable Member refers (hill reservoirs and small dams on the Greek islands)
have mostly been financed under the 1989-1993 and 1994-1999 Community support frameworks.

In the main they provide for both irrigation and drinking water. Collecting water in this way in
Southern Europe allows the winter run-off, which is generally of good quality, to be exploited and permits
economic and social development particularly on islands.

In 1998 the Commission had a private consultancy assess 26 projects of this type. Its conclusions were
sent to the Greek authorities accompanied by recommendations for resolving the technical problems found
in 11 of them.

During the period 1989-1993 Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on assessment of the effects
of certain public and private projects on the environment (1) was not correctly applied in Greece. In the
following years the situation was substantially improved, the Commission providing both assistance and
impetus, and on the basis of the technical specifications environmental studies accompanied all the part-
financed projects proposed. The often modest size and budget of these projects meant that no cost-benefit
or feasibility study was required for part-financing from the Structural Funds. For the larger projects such
studies were made.

Thus in general the need for and advisability of these projects was adequately demonstrated. However the
hydrogeological studies and final plans did not in all cases satisfactorily assess rock and soil permeability
and all construction parameters. This resulted in inadequate water collection owing to leakage through the
rock. These studies and plans are the Member State(cid:146)s responsibility. The most commonly adopted solution
has been to line the reservoir bottom with a watertight membrane. Most of the additional work of this
type has been paid for from national funds with no Community contribution.

There is no general timetable for these projects. Each has followed its own timetable as indicated in the
technical specifications and adjusted to reality on the ground. In the case of certain reservoirs and dams
the downstream work (irrigation and drinking water networks) may fall within the 2000-2006
programming period.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.