WRITTEN QUESTION P-2248/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Uncontrolled waste tips on the Aegean islands.
Date: 2001-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Aegean Islands, application of EU law, environmental protection, sewage sludge, unauthorised dumping, waste management, wastewater, water treatment

4.4.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/141

Is the Council aware of these facts and can it confirm or disprove them? Is it aware of any similar
developments in Macau? What impact will these developments, if confirmed, have on EU relations with
China?

Reply

(29 November 2001)

The Council is aware of the press reports to which the Honourable Member refers. It has, however, no
reason to believe that the authorities in Beijing or in Hong Kong currently intend to promote legislation
that would undermine the Joint Declaration or Basic Law, to which the EU remains firmly attached. The
same holds true, moreover, for Macau. The Council will, however, continue to monitor developments.

(2002/C 81 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2248/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Uncontrolled waste tips on the Aegean islands

(18 July 2001)

According to newspaper reports, over 150 000 tonnes of waste are dumped annually in the 250
uncontrolled waste tips in the Aegean islands, and urban sewage often ends up in the sea: this has an
adverse effect on the environment, public health and tourism. Article 3 of Directive 91/271/EEC (1) on
waste-water treatment states that: (cid:145)Member States shall ensure that all agglomerations are provided with
collecting systems for urban waste water, at the latest by 31 December 2000 for those with a population
equivalent (p.e.) of more than 15 000 (cid:133)(cid:146).

What reasons does Greece give for failing to comply with the provisions of Directive 91/271/EEC? What
action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the hygienic waste burial sites already planned
and approved will operate as soon as possible?

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40.

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

(4 October 2001)

From the perspective of Community legislation on waste management, it is important to underline that
Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste as amended (1) stipulates a number of obligations
for Member States in connection with the management of waste disposal. Specifically, Article 4 requires
Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure that waste is recovered or disposed of without
endangering human health and without using processes or methods which could harm the environment.
Member States are required under that provision to take the necessary measures to prohibit
the
abandonment, dumping or uncontrolled disposal of waste. In addition, Article 8 requires Member States to
ensure that any holders of waste has it handled by a private or public waste collector or recovers or
disposes it himself in accordance with the directive. Furthermore, Article 9 requires that waste disposal
operators must obtain a permit from the relevant national authority. In addition to Council Directive 75/
442/EEC, Member States must comply with the provisions set out in Council Directive 1999/31/EC of
26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (2) and Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on
hazardous waste (3).

With regard to urban waste water, the Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 on urban waste
water treatment (4) covers mainly the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water and waste
water from certain industries. The mentioned Article 3 of the Directive shall ensure the equipment of
agglomerations p.e. with collecting systems within a certain time. However the Directive lays down certain

C 81 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

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4.4.2002

general provisions for sludge as well, as the provision for registration or authorisation of the disposal of
sludge before 31 December 1998 (Article 14.2) and the prohibition of the disposal of sludge in surface
waters before 31 December 1998 (Article 14.3).

The Greek authorities have provided the Commission with their regulations on sludge required by the
issues, the Greek authorities informed the
Directive 91/271/EEC in the year 2000. Besides the legal
Commission, that the main part of the sludge produced, is disposed in landfills and a minor amount is
reused. For the year 2000 it was forecasted to dispose about 94 % in landfills and to reuse about 6 % in
agriculture and others.

The Commission will nevertheless follow the Greek authorities(cid:146) progress on the implementation of the
above Directive.

If the Honourable Member or other person has any evidence to the effect that specific Community
obligations have been infringed in any particular instance, it is open to them to bring the relevant facts to
the attention of
the Commission which would take all necessary steps to ensure that Community
environment law is fully complied with.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC (OJ L 78, 26.3.1991) and Commission

Decision 96/350/EC (OJ L 135, 6.6.1996).

(2) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.
(3) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.
(4) As amended by Council Directive 1998/15/EC (OJ L 67, 7.3.1998).

(2002/C 81 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2249/01

by Gianfranco Dell(cid:146)Alba (TDI) to the Council

(20 July 2001)

Subject: Europol

On 2 June 2001, Europol(cid:146)s offices were searched and one of its officers was questioned by the Dutch
police at some length on suspicion of fraud.

In view of the status of Europol (cid:129) which polices other police forces (cid:129) neither the Commission nor
Parliament can consider instituting an inquiry.

As a branch of the budgetary authority, it is not acceptable that Parliament should be unable to ascertain
the full facts about a case which tarnishes the image of the whole European Union and its institutions, and
that it should have to make do with gleaning information from the press.

Does not the Council agree that this anomaly ought to be corrected and that the Court of Auditors and the
European Parliament,
in their respective roles, ought to be assigned powers of supervision over such
bodies as Europol?

Has the Council instituted inquiries to ascertain whether fraud has been committed against the Community
budget?

Reply

(27 November 2001)

1.
The Honourable Member of the European Parliament is informed that Europol presently is financed
by the Member States and thus not financed from the Community budget. Therefore direct fraud against
the Community budget is excluded. In as far as it has been alleged that fraud was committed in the
framework of Community programmes, it is the task of the Commission bodies (for instance OLAF) to
further investigate the issue.

2.
The system of Member State financing is laid down in the Europol Convention. Any amendment of
this system would require the Convention to be amended which in turn requires a ratification procedure in
all Member States.