WRITTEN QUESTION E-2254/01 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Hydroelectric works on the river Alphios.
Date: 2001-07-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Peloponnese, application of EU law, environmental impact, hydroelectric development, impact study, tourism

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?

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/89

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2001)

According to the Commission’s information, the Ministry of Development is, within the context of the
liberalisation of the energy market, supporting private energy production initiatives. This support is being
given through the Competitiveness operational programme: a call for expressions of interest has been
launched, and selected projects will be co-financed under the programme via the national aid scheme. The
project in question is one of those being proposed.

On the face of it, the dam does not conflict with Community legislation. Nonetheless, a full environmental
impact assessment will have to be carried out and environmental conditions approved before the project
goes ahead. This study will have to take account of existing tourist development in the region. Should it
transpire that construction of the dam would be detrimental to the ‘development of alternative forms of
tourism’ mentioned by the Honourable Member, account would have to be taken of
this in the
environmental conditions, and compensatory/remedial measures imposed.

(2002/C 93 E/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2259/01

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Diversity in the energy sector and security of supply

(31 July 2001)

to be an essential

in competition terms,

the Commission considers harmonisation of

In its Green Paper on energy supply strategy (1)
the
Community’s energy taxation,
for preventing
distortions in the energy sector. Energy consumption already varies between the Member States both
because of the structure of industry and because of everyday energy requirements. The Scandinavian
countries, for example, have developed efficient and environmentally friendly energy production thanks to
their northerly geographical situation, with a view to achieving diversity in the energy sector and thus
security of energy supply. The work which has been done in terms of development is already visible as a
significant improvement in the environment, greater efficiency of energy consumption and the continual
renewal of the infrastructure of production installations. Excessively high taxation would have a negative
effect on the development of industry and energy production and thus also on the environment.

instrument

That energy taxation thus has an effect in regulating behaviour can be seen for example in the energy
taxation decisions made in Finland in 1997, when tax on domestic biofuel was increased. This very recent
information unfortunately does not appear in this Green Paper. As a result of past taxation decisions the
use of local fuel dropped by as much as a third from 1997 to 2000. At the same time the use of imported
fuel and imported energy increased. This cannot surely be the objective of harmonising fuel taxation. On
the contrary, as I understand it the objective of the Green Paper was to increase the EU’s self-sufficiency in
energy. One threat being conjured up is that the share of imported energy may grow to as much as 70 %
by 2030. However, in Finland, for example, imported energy accounts for 72 % of the total, even higher
than the EU’s own ‘horror’ scenario. So energy taxation is an important matter, and in harmonising it the
Member States must be allowed some freedom of movement.

1.
How can the purchase of imported energy within the Community be treated equitably and in such a
way that industry in the northern Member States and in locations involving long-distance transport is not
forced into an unfavourable position?

2.

How can the development and special position of local energy production be secured?

How can the northern dimension and security of supply in the Baltic region be coordinated with

3.
security of energy supply for the whole EU?

(1) COM(2000) 769.