WRITTEN QUESTION E-1840/01 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Water purification plants in Brussels.
Date: 2001-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, infringement of EU law, offence, wastewater, water treatment

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/119

The Commission will seek to ensure that the vitality of the economic and social fabric of tobacco-growing
areas is safeguarded.

As to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s suggestion on restricting imports of raw tobacco, any curb on imports
would call for the introduction of a system of tariff quotas or other restrictive measures that would not be
compatible with the Community(cid:146)s commitments within the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

(1) COM(2001) 264 final.

(2002/C 40 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1840/01

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 June 2001)

Subject: Water purification plants in Brussels

In its reply to my oral question H-0355/98 (1) the Commission said it did not consider that the Belgian
authorities had complied with their (cid:145)obligations stemming from the Urban Waste Water Treatment
Directive 91/271/EEC (2), and in particular with Article 17(cid:146). In its role as the Guardian of the Treaty, the
Commission had therefore (cid:145)taken the necessary steps towards an infringement procedure under Article 169
of the EC Treaty(cid:146).

Have the Belgian authorities since complied with the requirements of the directive, and what has been the
outcome of the Commission(cid:146)s infringements proceedings?

(1) Written answer of 31 March 1998.
(2) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40.

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

(5 September 2001)

Belgium is late in implementing Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1999 on urban waste water
treatment (1). Besides Brussels, many other big agglomerations in Flanders and Wallonia still
lack
appropriate urban waste water treatment. The Commission has taken action following a dual track process.

A first infringement procedure was opened in 1998 because of the incorrect content of the programme for
the implementation of the Directive. The Commission action has led to the condemnation of Belgium by
the Court of Justice of the European Communities by a judgement delivered on 6 July 2000 (2).

A second infringement procedure was opened in 1999 because of the delayed implementation of the
Directive in respect of the building of sewers and waste-water treatment plants in sensitive areas.

In the case of Brussels-Capital a waste water treatment plant, that purifies the waste water of 360 000
(cid:145)population equivalent(cid:146) (p.e.) has been constructed. However the second treatment plant with a foreseen
capacity of 1 100 000 p.e., is still in the planning phase. The region of Brussels-Capital plans to be in
conformity with the Directive in 2005. As the region of Brussels is identified as discharging into a sensitive
area, the above requirements of the directive should have been met by 31 December 1998.

With regard to Article 17 the Brussels authorities have provided the Commission with an implementation
programme, but the programme is still insufficient regarding the collecting system.

A reasoned opinion was notified to Belgium in 2000. The Commission decided to refer this case to the
Court of Justice at its last infringement meeting.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.
(2) Case C-236/99, Commission v. Kingdom of Belgium, not yet published, http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm.