WRITTEN QUESTION E-2544/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Promotion of the use of wind energy.
Date: 2001-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Greece, agricultural holding, energy policy, wind energy

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/189

A letter of formal notice (for improper application of Directive 92/43/EEC) was therefore sent to the
Spanish authorities. In their latest reply they say that,
in the light of a report from the Jœcar Water
Authority, they have decided to produce a new impact statement with a view to altering the project so as
to prevent the adverse impact, and indicate that the consent to carry out the first phase of the project has
been suspended. The Commission is now examining both the (cid:129) fairly technical (cid:129) reply from the Spanish
authorities and the new information received from the Honourable Member with a view to deciding how
to pursue the matter.

Payments to the (cid:145)Restituci(cid:243)n y adaptaci(cid:243)n de cauces naturales de los Barrancos Poyo, Torrente, Chiva y
Pozalet(cid:146) project, co-financed through the Cohesion Fund by virtue of Decision C(1999) 2161 of 20 July
1999, have recently been suspended pending the outcome of the proceedings initiated under Article 226
(ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty. Should the investigation procedure confirm that the relevant Community
legislation has not been complied with, the Commission will withdraw the aid and recover any sums
already paid.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 81 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2544/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2001)

Subject: Promotion of the use of wind energy

The EU often proclaims its intention to promote the use of environmentally friendly forms of energy, such
as wind power. As part of this policy, several wind parks have been created, particularly in countries with
high wind power potential such as Greece. However, many of the generators in the wind parks have been
taken out of operation, leaving them inactive and presenting a rather depressing sight in areas which do
not have other energy resources such as Skyros, Ikaria, Evvia, Crete etc.

Can the Commission say whether it knows how many of the generators which it has helped to fund,
constructed in wind parks in Greece, are currently operating? How many of them have been taken out of
operation? What are the exact amounts which the EU has allocated for the construction of wind generators
in Greece? Which bodies have these amounts been given to?

Has the Commission investigated the reasons for these generators(cid:146) high failure rate? What initiatives has
the Directorate-General for Research taken for the promotion of this environmentally friendly form of
energy, and what provisions have been made in the new programme which has replaced the Fifth
Framework Programme to ensure that there are sufficient resources permanently available and to prevent a
repetition of unwelcome developments such as the cutback of appropriations in the Preliminary Draft
Budget for 2002 for environmentally friendly nuclear fusion?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information required in order to reply to this question in detail. It will
communicate the results of its research shortly without fail.