WRITTEN QUESTION E-2799/01 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Environmental crime in the Sierra de Fontcalent (Alicant, Spain).
Date: 2001-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, European Commission, association, exchange of information, petition, pollution, waste management, water pollution

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16.5.2002

However, what is the Commission’s assessment of such measures given that on 12 September 2001, the
‘Tax Value’ shops in Zaventem airport (Brussels) had numerous knives in a range of sizes for sale to
passengers who had already passed the security checks?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 2001)

The Commission unreservedly condemns such practices and indeed has recommended that the sale of such
dangerous objects should be stopped.

The Commission on 10 October 2001 proposed the adoption and enforcement of common Community
security rules for civil aviation by means of a Parliament and Council Regulation (1). The incorporation of
these rules into Community law will enable them to be applied in an effective manner and this process will
be subject to continuous control.

The common rules will be based on the rules set out in Document 30 of the European Civil Aviation
Conference (ECAC) and will aim at increased control of both international and domestic flights.

They will chiefly be concerned with:

3 control of access to sensitive areas of airports and aircraft;

3 control of passengers and their hand luggage;

3 control and monitoring of hold luggage;

3 control of cargo and mail;

3 training of ground staff;

3 definition of specifications for the equipment for the above controls;

3 classification of weapons and other items which it is prohibited to bring on to aircraft or into the

sensitive areas of airports.

(1) COM(2001) 575 final.

(2002/C 115 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2799/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Environmental crime in the Sierra de Fontcalent (Alicant, Spain)

The population in the rural districts of the municipality of Alicante (Rebolledo, Cañada del Fenollar, La
Alcoraya, Verdegas, Lo Xeperut) have for a long time had to suffer serious inconveniences, harm and
health risks resulting from the Alicante solid urban waste tip, the treatment plant for slurry from the
municipal sewage works and other tips in the area.

More specifically:

3 The solid urban waste plant (managed until July 2000 by Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) and
thereafter by INUSA) does not have an appropriate collection system to prevent leaching so that the
groundwater is contaminated; instead of being buried, waste is left in the open thus generating plagues
of insects, fires, toxic gases and bad smells; rubble is illegally mixed in with urban waste and waste is
piled to illegal heights. The tip also accepts other illegal waste such as tyres and industrial by-products
against payment. The tip is described as a urban waste treatment and composting plant but the waste

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is neither treated nor composted. Finally, INUSA has failed to meet the deadlines and conditions set in
July 2000 when the municipal government awarded INUSA the contract to manage the tip until
2012.

3 At the sewage slurry desiccation plant operated by the Emarasa joint venture, the slurry is poured
onto the site without any prior treatment and gives rise to plagues of insects and an unsupportable
stench; moreover, the site is not guarded and this leads to illegal tipping.

3 In view of the absence of any controls by the municipality, another company, Abornarsa, has opened
a third disposal area for sewage slurry next to the two original sites. This third site, which is used for
the disposal of sewage slurry from other municipalities, is illegal and lacks in any kind of municipal
license.

The local residents have joined together to form the Plataforma Ciudadana por la Calidad Ambiental
(Citizens’ Platform for the Quality of the Environment) to protest and to raise public awareness. They have
gathered more than 2500 signatures in support of the various complaints lodged with the local, national
and European authorities and of the charges of environmental crime filed with the Civil Guard’s Service for
the Protection of Nature (Seprona).

What measures does the Commission intend to take in order to ensure that the Alicante waste disposal
tips comply with Community legislation on the protection of the environment and in order to guarantee
the safety, and protect the health, of residents of the rural districts of Alicante?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2001)

The Honourable Member draws attention to the degradation of
in the Sierra de
Fontcalent, caused by the Alicante solid urban waste tip, a sewage slurry desiccation plant and other tips in
the area.

the environment

As a result of this state of affairs the local population have had to suffer harm and health risks.

The Commission has no knowledge of the facts mentioned by the Honourable Member. It has therefore
asked the Spanish authorities for their comments on the facts to ensure compliance with the Community
legislation applicable in this case, particularly with:

3 Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste (1), as amended by Council Directive 91/156/

EEC of 18 March 1991 (2);

3 Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste (3).

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.
(3) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.

(2002/C 115 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2800/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Urban development on the island of Tabarca, a site of special Community interest and a special

protection area for birds, in Alicante (Spain)

The island of Tabarca is proposed by Spain as a site of special Community interest and as a special
protection area for birds for the future Natura 2000 Network. The reason why it has been chosen as such
lies in its great wealth in flora and fauna protected by national and Community law, notably its large
colonies of posidonia oceanica.