WRITTEN QUESTION E-2252/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Environmental impact of the construction of the Aposelemi Dam in Crete.
Date: 2001-07-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, Crete, European Commission, engineering structure, environmental impact, exchange of information, impact study

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/87

including tank-cleaning
The Commission is greatly concerned about operational ship-source pollution,
operation in Community waters. Various international measures regarding construction and operation of
oil tankers (mainly through the Marpol 73/78 Convention) have significantly reduced the need for and
benefits of discharge of cargo residues at sea during the last decades. The application of these international
rules are controlled in Community ports through port State control under Council Directive 95/21/EC of
19 June 1995 concerning the enforcement, in respect of shipping using Community ports and sailing in
the waters under the jurisdiction of the Member States, of international standards for ship safety, pollution
prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (port State control) (1).

However, the Commission considered that additional measures were needed in order to stop the discharges
of oil and other substances at sea. For this reason, it made in 1998 a proposal for a Directive on port
reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues (2). The Directive 2000/59/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2000 on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste
and cargo residues-Commission declaration (3), which was adopted by the Parliament and the Council in
November 2000, introduces a number of requirements on both ports and ships to ensure that adequate
facilities are available in all Community ports and that they are utilised by ships visiting those ports. The
Directive shall be implemented by all Member States by 28 December 2002 at the latest.

By providing rules on reception facilities, waste management planning, as well as various obligations on
ships to deliver waste ashore and to pay for the costs, the directive is likely to significantly reduce the
benefits of discharging waste at sea. The directive also introduces an obligation for ships to notify the port
of on-board quantities of wastes and residues. This, coupled with port-based checks and appropriate
sanctions, will greatly improve the possibilities to control compliance with the international rules.
Therefore, the Commission is confident that as from 2002, the quantities of waste delivered to European
port reception facilities will strongly increase and as a consequence the number of illegal discharges at sea
will be strongly reduced.

The directive also provides for a continuous evaluation and review of the Community waste delivery
regime, with a view to ensuring that it meets its objective, which is to eliminate illegal discharges of ship-
generated waste and cargo residues into the sea.

(1) OJ L 157, 7.7.1995.
(2) OJ C 271, 31.8.1998.
(3) OJ L 332, 28.12.2000.

(2002/C 93 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2252/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 July 2001)

Subject: Environmental impact of the construction of the Aposelemi Dam in Crete

A joint decision of the Ministry of the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works and the Ministry
of Economic Affairs announced the compulsory expropriation of an area of 240 hectares in the Langada
area, Chersonissos Irakliou, Crete for the construction of the Aposelemi Dam which, according to the
original studies, will hold 30 000 000 m3 of water per year.

The value of this project is being disputed by a committee of local inhabitants, quoting studies by the
Geology department at the University of Patras and other scientific bodies which emphasise the adverse
environmental and cultural impact this project will have, such as the destruction of the traditional village
of Sfendili, the abundant flora and fauna, local farms and the local microclimate, while the final figure
would be 20 000 000 m3 of water a year short of the forecasts.

Has the Commission asked for this project to be included in the CSF? If so, can it assure us that the
environmental studies considered all the aspects of the problem and looked closely at any alternative
solutions?

C 93 E/88

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The Greek authorities have long been planning the construction of a large dam on the River Aposselemis
in Crete and have sought part-financing for this project from the Cohesion Fund. The dam should solve
the problem of supplying drinking water, which result mainly from tourist development and a general rise
in living standards, to a large part of Eastern Crete.

The Cohesion Fund has already part-financed some of the preparatory studies and compulsory land
purchases required for this project (some 3 000 hectares of agricultural land, existing buildings, etc.). The
Greek authorities have now submitted a fresh application for part-financing from the Cohesion Fund, this
time for civil engineering works concerning the construction of the dam. This is now being considered by
the Commission.

According to the information available to the Commission, the Greek authorities have completed the
procedure provided for by Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public
and private projects on the environment (1), which requires an environmental impact study. The studies
carried out have also looked at alternative sources of drinking water.

the Commission has

information concerning inter alia a
However,
complementary study under Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2) to consider the risk posed by construction of the dam to the two
Natura 2000 sites which could be affected by the works. If necessary, that study could result in changes to
the environmental terms and so to possible changes to the proposed works.

recently asked for

further

In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 establishing a Cohesion Fund (3), any project
receiving part-finance from the Cohesion Fund must comply with Community law, including provisions on
environmental protection.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994, as amended by Regulations (EC) Nos 1264/1999 and 1265/1999 (OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 93 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2254/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Hydroelectric works on the river Alphios

(26 July 2001)

The Environmental Service at the Ministry of the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works
recently gave prior approval for the siting of a small-scale hydroelectric project with a capacity of 5MW at
Thissoa on the river Alphios, on the border between the provinces of Elia and Arcadia. Two years ago,
under the Leader II Development Programme, the European Union funded the development in the same
area of alternative forms of tourism which rely on the existence and flow of this river. While I understand
the importance to Greek society of the construction of hydroelectric plant, I should like to point out that if
this project is carried out it will have serious consequences for the viability of the tourist development in
the region funded by the EU, and on the environment.

In view of the above, and the particular nature of the local terrain which is of great environmental
importance, can the Commission comment on the compatibility of the project in question with the
projects it itself funded a short time ago, and how far Community environmental legislation has been
respected?