WRITTEN QUESTION E-2020/01 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Accession negotiations with Cyprus - Environment charter.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, EU environmental policy, accession negotiations, environmental monitoring, stratospheric pollutant, waste management

C 40 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2019/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Mediterranean Sea

Does the Commission have any concerns about the long-term effects of the growing use of desalination
plants on the ecology and biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea?

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

(6 September 2001)

The principle of sea water desalination is to remove the salt from sea water by a technical process (by
distillation, nowadays particularly by pressure filtration through very fine membranes), resulting on the
one hand in freshwater of the desired quality for drinking water supply etc. and on the other hand (cid:129) in
much smaller quantity (cid:129) of brines, sea water with a higher concentration of salt.

Possible impacts of desalination plants on the aquatic environment to be considered are therefore related
to the discharge of brines, in particular to higher salt concentrations and temperatures at a local level, plus
the use of chemicals used for pretreatment and/or cleaning. According to experience available, such impact
can largely vary from close to zero impact to considerable impact, depending on the location and details of
the process. This is why within the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) studies have commenced. MAP is
dedicated to the protection of the Mediterranean under the auspices of the United Nations Environment
Programme and the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea (1). This action is to
lead to a comprehensive document with an assessment of impacts as well as mitigation measures.

Community environmental
binding and enforceable instrument.

legislation has, through the new Water Framework Directive (2), a legally

The Directive addresses all impacts on water quality, including those from desalination plants. For surface
waters including coastal waters the objective is to ensure good ecological status. Such ecological status
addresses the quality of water in a holistic way, in terms of its biology and functioning of the ecosystem, as
well as morphological and physico-chemical components.

The necessary operational tools for achieving this objective (comprehensive analysis of all impacts on
waters; management plans and programmes of measures, as well as a permit procedure for all relevant
abstractions or discharges) will ensure that all impacts on coastal waters including those from desalination
plants are properly taken into account and the necessary measures taken.

The Commission will carefully observe technical and scientific developments, facilitate where appropriate
exchange of information and experience, and scrutinize the proper implementation of the Directive,
including achieving the objective of achieving/maintaining good ecological water status.

(1) Ratification by Council Decision 77/585/EEC of 25.7.1977 (OJ L 240, 19.9.1977), as amended by Council Decision

1999/802/EC, 22.10.1999 (OJ L 322, 14.12.1999).

(2) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for

Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000).

(2002/C 40 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2020/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Accession negotiations with Cyprus (cid:129) Environment charter

Is the Commission satisfied that Cypriot legislation requiring the safe collection and disposal of CFCs not
only exists but is being put into practice?

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/165

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Community environmental legislation on this issue is enforced through Regulation (EC) no 2037/2000 of
the Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (1). There
are provisions in this Regulation, notably Article 16, that require the Member States to promote the
recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction of controlled substances such as chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) whose production, consumption and placing on the market, apart from clearly defined exceptions,
are prohibited. This regulation will be in force in Cyprus from the date of accession.

Cyprus is in the process of establishing a strategy for the control of ozone depleting substances. The
Commission understands that on the basis of this strategy Cyprus will take the necessary steps to ensure
that the provisions of Regulation (EC) no 2037/00 are incorporated into its legislation. The Commission
will monitor developments in Cyprus with respect to this issue.

(1) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000.

(2002/C 40 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2021/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: EU candidacy of Turkey

Has the Commission made clear to the Government of Turkey that accession negotiations with that
country cannot begin until the problem of the division of Cyprus, and the occupation of part of the island
by the Turkish army, has been resolved?

What is the Commission(cid:146)s understanding of the attitude of Turkey regarding the need to resolve the
Cyprus problem and establish a state on the island with a single international status?

When does the Commission intend to raise these issues with the Turkish authorities?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

As with all other candidate countries, accession negotiations cannot begin before the political criteria
established by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 have been satisfied.

Turkey has confirmed,
in the framework of the enhanced political dialogue, pursuant to the Helsinki
European Council Conclusions of the 10/11 December 1999, that it supports the efforts by the United
the Cyprus problem. The
to promote a comprehensive settlement of
Nations Secretary General
Commission regrets however that until now this commitment has not produced concrete results.

The Commission will continue to raise this issue with Turkey on all appropriate occasions.