WRITTEN QUESTION E-2774/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Eutrophication and dangerous toxins in nine large lakes in Greece.
Date: 2001-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Greece, dangerous substance, environmental policy, eutrophication, health policy, lake, protected area, research and development

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Legislation on the control of illicit drugs falls mostly under the competence of the Member States. The
drug control legislation in Member States is based on the United Nations Conventions from 1961, 1971
and 1988, which have been signed and ratified by all Member States. The level of control on each
substance depends on the Schedule (I to IV with Schedule I requiring the strictest control) of the
Conventions in which it is placed. The 32nd World Health Organisation (WHO) Expert Committee on
Drug Dependence recommended to the United Nations (UN) Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) that
GHB be listed in Schedule IV of the 1971 United Nations (UN) Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
This would mean that the control measures to be applied to GHB would resemble those applied to
commonly used medical products like benzodiazepins.

However, according to the United Nations (UN) Conventions, a country party to the Conventions may
adopt stricter or more severe measures than those provided by the Conventions if, in its opinion, such
measures are desirable or necessary. Hence, it is left to the countries to decide, if they want to classify a
substance to a schedule requiring stricter control measures. Therefore, the Commission has no objection
on the Swedish initiative to reclassify GHB as an illicit substance.

(2002/C 147 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2766/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Warning to Sweden for late submission of maps

(9 October 2001)

In November 1999 the Commission gave a warning to Sweden and three other countries for their failure
to forward maps showing State regional aid on time. There was a temporary interruption of payments.

Has the error now been corrected or is Sweden still having problems in forwarding maps showing State
regional aid?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2001)

By letter dated 22 October 1999, the Swedish authorities notified the Swedish regional aid map for the
period 2000 to 2006 in accordance with Article 88(3) (ex Article 93) of the EC Treaty.

The examination of the notification by the Commission showed that the notified file was incomplete. At a
meeting on 12 November 1999 and by letter of 25 November 1999, the Commission asked the Swedish
authorities to complete the notification. The Swedish authorities provided these elements by letters of
21 December 1999 and 8 February 2000. By letter of 17 February 2000, the Swedish authorities modified
their notification (revision of the aid intensity ceiling proposed).

The Commission decided to approve the Swedish regional aid map on 29 March 2000. It informed the
Swedish authorities of the decision by letter No SG(2000) D/103189 of 17 April 2000.

(2002/C 147 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2774/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Eutrophication and dangerous toxins in nine large lakes in Greece

The results of studies by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki show that the considerable increase in
levels of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, caused by eutrophication of the water in nine Greek lakes
(Kastoria, Ioannina, Volvi, Doirani, Mikri Prespa, Vistonida, Ambrakia, Zazari and Koronia) has led to the

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phenomenon of ‘green water’, in which toxins are produced at many times the limits set by the World
Health Organisation (WHO). They are dangerous both for human health, due to the cancer risk, and the
ecosystem. Four of the lakes mentioned above (Volvi, Mikri Prespa, Vistonida and Koronia) are protected
under the international Ramsar Convention.

Is the Commission aware of the extent of the problem in Greece, and what are its views on tackling

1.
it?

The WHO has laid down protective procedures for dealing with cyanobacteria toxins. How are these

2.
being implemented, both in Greece and in the European Union as a whole?

Does the Commission intend to use the results of

3.
Thessaloniki to restore the quality of water in the lakes to normal levels?

the studies by the Aristotle University of

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2001)

From research carried out on Greek aquatic ecosystems, the Commission is aware of water quality
1.
in particular regarding the well known eutrophication problems of Greek water
problems in Greece,
bodies. However, the present question concerns toxic species (blue algae in fresh waters), on which little
information is available so far, but several studies are going on in various Member States.

Under Community law water quality problems are addressed by several directives, such as the Surface
Water for Drinking Water Directive (1), the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (2), the Nitrates
Directive (3) and others. These directives aim at the maintenance or establishment of a certain water quality
and/or the reduction of impacts on water bodies, especially regarding nutrients and dangerous substances.

The provisions of the above directives can in this sense be regarded as ‘measures at source’ as they should
protect against phenomena such as bad water quality and eutrophication being the basis for negative
environmental effects, e.g. the occurrence of excessive concentrations of algae toxins. The excessive
development of blue algae is favoured by high inputs of phosphorus, mainly originating from urban and
industrial waste waters and agricultural fertilisers.

2.
Standards, such as limit values for toxins, are not laid down in existing Community-legislation, as the
problem had not been investigated and monitoring methods had not yet been developed at the time the
Directives were adopted. There is a recommendation on one toxin only (i.e. Microcystin, a cell-toxin which
harms enzymatic activity). This standard is being included into drinking water and bathing water
regulations in several countries.

In the Fifth Framework of Research and Technological Development (RTD)-Programme (1998-2002), an
initiative to build up a European wide network on the issue of algae toxins has already been started.
Moreover, a number of research projects are addressing questions related to the development, control and
abatement of toxic algae blooms in freshwater ecosystems. The Cyanotox project intends to develop an
early warning system for the detection and monitoring of toxic cyanobacteria in lakes and reservoirs. The
project Photox actually develops a novel technology for the photocatalytic destruction of cyanotoxins. On
this basis, after an assessment of the problem at European level and of the potential for existing and
advanced technologies to monitor and remove cyanotoxins from water, the Community could set up
guidelines for measures on toxins in aquatic ecosystems and, if necessary, establish limit values on toxins
in future Community-legislation.

3.
In the agri-environmental measures under the rural development plan 2000-2006 for Greece
(Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (4)) a specific action is foreseen in some Natura 2000 areas of Northern

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Greece, including Lakes Vistonida and Koronia, providing for low input farm management systems, aiming
at improving biodiversity at a first sight. However, this action should be beneficial for the quality of water
in these lakes as well, since it will contribute to reduce pollution from farming.

The Commission also co-finances a project on the extension, improvement and modernisation of urban
waste water treatment systems in the city of Ioannina under the Cohesion Fund. Once achieved, this
system will have a positive effect on Ioannina Lake.

As far as Lake Koronia is concerned, the elaboration of a ‘Master Plan’, and the first phase of its
rehabilitation were also co-financed by the Cohesion Fund. The next step of this project has been taken up
in the Cohesion Fund’s implementation strategy for the 2000-2006 period.

Moreover, a whole series of projects on the protection of biotopes in the Volvi, Prespa and Bistonida lakes
were co-financed (5) during by the European Regional Development Fund under
the Operational
Programme (OP) Environment for the 1994-1999 period. The extension of these actions is foreseen in
the relevant Operational Programme for the 2000-2006 period and in the Cohesion Fund projects for the
same period. Protecting the biotopes will also have positive impacts on the lakes named above.

At present the Commission is in discussion with the Greek authorities on their review and ‘enlarging’ of
sensitive areas (under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive) and vulnerable zones (under the
Nitrates Directive), as currently identified for tertiairy wastewater treatments and action programmes in
agriculture in order to prevent nutrient losses. An improvement in this field would lead to more stringent
provisions in endangered areas and would be a significant step forward in combating eutrophication and
nitrate problems in surface waters and groundwater bodies. This improvement of water quality, in general,
would tackle the problem of high concentrations of toxins as well, as this occurs as a consequence of
eutrophication.

In summary, the assessment of research work done in Greece as well as the use of results within future
projects, lies within the responsibilities of the Greek authorities.

(1) Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the

abstraction of drinking water in the Member States, OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(2) Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.
(3) Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused

by nitrates from agricultural sources, OJ L 375, 31.12.1991.

(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations, OJ L 160,
26.6.1999.

(5) Environmental Operational Program in the framework of the Community Support Structure for Greece.

(2002/C 147 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2778/01

by Didier Rod (Verts/ALE), Alain Lipietz (Verts/ALE)
and Pierre Jonckheer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Ownership of the euro logo

The press (1) (2) has recently reported on a legal wrangle which could jeopardise the launch of the euro and
cost the Commission several million euros.

According to the articles in question, Travelex, a subsidiary of Thomas Cook, has filed a case with the
European Court of Justice in Luxembourg claiming trade mark infringement, based on the similarity
between the euro symbol and the company’s own logo which, it claims, has been registered since 1989 E
seven years before the euro symbol was adopted.

It must be said that Travelex is a foreign exchange office and therefore has much to lose from the
forthcoming introduction of the euro. And of course there is no certainty that it will win its case before
the European Court of Justice.