WRITTEN QUESTION E-2569/01 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission. The Alqueva dam project (Portugal).
Date: 2001-09-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Portugal, engineering structure, impact study, protection of animal life

C 93 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

(2002/C 93 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2569/01

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(21 September 2001)

Subject: The Alqueva dam project (Portugal)

Has the Commission investigated whether the construction of the Alqueva dam is in conformity with the
provisions of the Habitat Directive, and in particular with its effect on the Iberian Lynx as a protected
species under priority grade annexe II of this Directive?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2001)

In 1994-1995 the Commission part-financed environmental
Alqueva dam project in the light of Community environmental
project.

impact assessment (EIA) studies on the
legislation applicable to this type of

In the follow-up to those studies, the Portuguese authorities drew up an environmental management plan
for the overall area affected by the project; the plan makes provision for a large number of measures to
alleviate and compensate for that impact. The Commission is keeping a close eye on the way those
measures are being implemented, as implementation is one of the conditions for Community part-
financing. To that end it is currently analysing additional information received from the Portuguese on
implementation of the measures.

Lastly, alongside the EIA of the project as a whole, the environmental effects of each individual project
(minor dams, connection tunnels and irrigation systems) will be assessed separately having regard to the
conservation of areas included in the Natura 2000 network and, where applicable, in the light of the
principles laid down in Articles 6(3) and (4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1). The Iberian lynx is listed in Annex IV to
that Directive and is therefore protected under the arrangements laid down in Article 12 thereof.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 93 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2570/01

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(21 September 2001)

Subject: EU funding for experiments on non-human primates in the Netherlands

Given the concern expressed by many EU citizens over the use of non-human primates in experiments and
in light of the Dutch government’s announcement in July that it will be banning the use of great apes in
biomedical research, which directly affects the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk, when was
EU funding given to this centre last reviewed and when will it be reviewed again?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The last Community research contracts involving the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk
(BPRC) were signed in 2000.

As the Honourable Member may be aware, the Commission ensures a scientific as well as an ethical
assessment of all research proposals, before any decision is taken concerning funding of a research
proposal.