WRITTEN QUESTION E-2167/01 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Processing of plastics at the Poligás plant (Valencia region).
Date: 2001-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, EU law, environmental law, environmental protection, hazardous waste, packaging product, waste incineration

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/123

Will the Commission promote an information campaign in support of these two recommendations, which
are essential to provide urban dwellers in the Community with a high-quality environment, so that local
authorities in the Community will encourage the introduction of these two measures, which experts
believe would improve the situation considerably?

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

(12 October 2001)

At this time the Commission does not intend to go further on the specific question of noise awareness
raising in Spain than already universally foreseen in the proposed directive about noise assessment and
management, which is currently at second reading. The major emphasis is on strategic noise mapping and
the consequent action plans to be undertaken by competent authorities, rather than on limit setting.

The Commission(cid:146)s activities on the topic can be found at the following URL: www.europa.eu.int/comm/
environment/noise/home.htm.

(2002/C 81 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2167/01

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Subject: Processing of plastics at the PoligÆs plant (Valencia region)

PoligÆs, a plant recently opened in the locality of Ribesalbes (Castell(cid:243)n province, Spain) and dedicated to
obtaining electricity from incinerating plastics, has commenced test operations in the face of large-scale
opposition from residents in the locality and the surrounding area and from ecological movements.
Members of the public have complained about specific aspects concerning which the Commission was
informed in an earlier question submitted by the author of the present question on 2 July 2001.

Special attention should be paid to the erroneous position promoted by the Valencian regional government
in its impact statement concerning the plastics to be used for processing at this plant. These plastics (which
consist of packaging from the chemical/ceramic industry) should, under Community and Spanish law, be
considered dangerous waste on the grounds that
that nature.
Nonetheless, both the company and the regional government consider them to be non-dangerous waste,
solely on the grounds that they are washed prior to incineration.

they have contained other waste of

Does the Commission consider that the mere fact of washing plastics is sufficient for them no longer to be
considered dangerous, despite having contained toxic substances?

Do any provisions exist in Community law which might permit determination of whether this system is
compatible with the protection of health and the right to safety?

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

(19 October 2001)

Under Community legislation in force, for a waste to be considered hazardous it has to have one or more
of the properties listed in Annex III of Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous
waste (1). Packaging containing dangerous substances is considered hazardous if it continues to contain
dangerous residues, or has dangerous substances in the composition of its matrix, in quantities that would
render them hazardous by displaying one or more of the hazardous properties in Annex III.

C 81 E/124

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

On the basis of the information provided by the Honourable Member, the Commission cannot assess
whether the washing method used in the plant PoligÆs, is sufficient to remove all residues of dangerous
substances to the extent that none of the hazardous properties are displayed anymore. Neither can the
Commission assess if the composition of the packaging in question makes it hazardous.

For the assessment of the compatibility of the system with health and safety Community legislation further
information would be needed.

(1) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.

(2002/C 81 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2168/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Subject: Invitation to tender for the provision of ambulance services in Norrland

An invitation to tender for the provision of ambulance services in Norrland was organised some years ago.
In Lycksele, rival bids were submitted by the armed forces and a civil firm (Norrlandsflyg). In the end, the
armed forces won the contract, but Norrlandsflyg argued that they had not competed on a level playing
field. The case was notified to the Commission. The last time we looked into this matter, in May 1999, the
investigation had not been completed. Can the Commission state what progress has been made with this
case?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2001)

Since 1995, in response to complaints by private Swedish companies operating helicopter air services, the
Commission has been examining, under the rules of the EC Treaty on State aid, the conditions in which
helicopter transport contracts have been awarded to the Swedish army within the framework of invitations
to tender.

After a thorough examination of this case, the Commission has not found any elements of State aid as
defined in Article 87(1) (ex Article 92) of the EC Treaty. That said, the Commission is still looking at
whether the Swedish State can benefit from an operating licence as provided for in Article 4 et seq. of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23 July 1992, on the licensing of air carriers (1).

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.

(2002/C 81 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2169/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Subject: Interreg project and free competition

TV2, a Danish television channel which is privately owned and financed by advertising and Swedish
Television(cid:146)s Sydnytt channel are collaborating on a project using a satellite link for the rapid transmission
of television spots between Copenhagen and Malm(cid:246). The project has received SEK 12,5 million worth of
EU aid (under the Interreg programme) towards a total cost of SEK 25 million.