WRITTEN QUESTION E-2048/01 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE), Torben Lund (PSE),John Bowis (PPE-DE) and Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Vistula river basin as pilot project for the Water Framework Directive.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, EU programme, Poland, drafting of EU law, hydraulic works, water, water pollution, water protection

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18.7.2002

habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the ‘Habitats Directive’), Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on
the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1) and Directive
97/ 11/EC of 3 March 1997 (2) amending Directive 85/337/EEC (building projects and aquaculture at Bosa
and Villanova Monteleone, tourism and property development along the coast of Cala Giunco-Stagno
Notteri, Villasimius, tourism-orientated property development on the Teulada coast, tourism-oriented
property development on the Monte Russu coast, Aglientu), the Commission has launched four own-
initiative investigations.

With regard to the tourism-orientated property development on the Monte Russu coast, the Commission
has been unable to identify any breach of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats
Directives. The project consists of a holiday resort in two parts, one above the Castelsardo 7 Santa Teresa
di Gallura road and the other one below that road. The area below the road is within the proposed Site of
Community Importance (pSCI) ITB010006 Monte Russu, while the area above the road is outside the site
(but next to it). The total capacity of the resort is approximately 2250 beds. An assessment of the impact
on the site as required by the Habitats Directive was submitted by the proposer in September 2000 and an
EIA was also requested by the regional authorities and submitted by the proposer in March 2001. The
assessment of the impact on the site took into account all the habitats and species of Community
importance listed in Annexes I and II to the Habitats Directive present on the site. These include some
habitat types which, because their presence on the site is very limited and they are well represented on
other sites in Sardinia, are not part of the site description in the official Natura 2000 forms. The planned
mitigation measures effectively reduce the direct and indirect impact of the project on the habitats of
Community importance present on the site. In conclusion, the assessment carried out in view of the site’s
conservation objectives was properly done and the project is not likely to have a significant impact on the
Monte Russu pSCI.

The Commission will take the appropriate steps to ensure that Community law is observed in the cases in
question.

The projects concerned are not being cofinanced by the Structural Funds.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2002/C 172 E/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2048/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE), Torben Lund (PSE),
John Bowis (PPE-DE) and Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Vistula river basin as pilot project for the Water Framework Directive

The Vistula river, called the Queen of Polish rivers, is more than 1 000 km long, and its river basin covers
55,7 % of Poland and falls mostly within Polish territory. Its water quality is very poor because of the
10 million cubic meters of sewage and waste that are discharged daily. It starts in heavily-industrialised
Upper Silesia, which is one of the most contaminated areas in Europe. It flows through the historic city of
Cracow where, thanks to ISPA and EBRD funding, untreated urban wastewater should be a thing of the
past by 2005. The Vistula continues between Zawichost and Plock (this section is a breeding area of
European importance for rare and endangered birds like stone curlew, common gull,
little tern and
corncrake). The Vistula flows through the Polish capital Warsaw, where less than 50 % of its wastewater is
treated. The river passes through Wloclawek, where the first and so far only dam has been constructed in
its middle and lower course. River fragmentation is not a big problem yet in these parts of the Vistula, but
the existing dam raises many ecological and social problems. It halts sediment transport (disrupting
sediment balance and reducing groundwater resources downstream), precludes fish migration, and
increases the risk of winter floods. The Polish Government plans more dams between Warsaw and
Gdansk. If built, these dams would mean the end of salmon reproduction in the tributary Drweca and
would ruin the ecologically very valuable Vistula valley and estuary 7 having a negative impact on the

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Baltic Sea. When Poland becomes a member of the European Union it will have to fulfil the ‘good
ecological and chemical status’ objectives of the Water Framework Directive in all waters by the required
deadlines, and achieve integrated river basin management. Poland should also prevent further deterioration
of the current ecological and chemical status of all waters. As an EU-Accession country, Poland also has to
implement the Habitat Directive, contributing to the establishment of the Natura 2000 network, which is
also a requirement of the WFD. This process, which implies the protection of certain habitats and species,
has already started in the Vistula river basin. Large parts of the Vistula valley are now considered for
designation as Natura 2000 sites, but the process is under threat because of the plans for building new
dams.

Will the European Commission, therefore, consider a proposal of assistance to the Polish authorities for a
timely implementation of the Water Framework Directive by designating the Vistula river basin as a
demonstration project for integrated river basin management (IRBM), to be financed by ISPA and other EU
funding? If successful, the Vistula river basin IRBM project could be a model for implementation of the
WFD elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Members that the water quality of the Vistula river, as well
as the protection of species and habitats, present in that river basin deserve attention. The Commission
continues to follow the proposal to build dams on the Vistula very closely.

Within the implementation strategy for the Water Framework Directive, the testing of guidance documents
in pilot river basins is foreseen. For this purpose about 10 basins or sub-basins will be selected, both in
Member States and Candidate Countries. At present, selection criteria are being developed, to ensure that
the chosen basins are representative as well as broadly distributed across Europe. The Vistula river would
definitely qualify as a candidate for a pilot river basin.
the
Commission would assess the proposal on an equal basis with all other proposals.

If proposed by the Polish authorities,

As regards Community funding, the Commission would positively consider, under the PHARE programme,
a project proposal from the Polish authorities related to the implementation of Directive 2000/60/EC
establishing a framework of Community action in the field of water policy (1). Such a project could include
integrated river basin management of the Vistula river.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2002/C 172 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2174/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Subject: Financial aid for the Palestinians

The European Union grants financial aid to the Palestinians.

From which budget lines does the money come? How much money has been granted in the past few
years, and what amounts have been set for this year and next? What projects has the money been used to
finance? By whom and on the basis of what criteria are the projects selected?