WRITTEN QUESTION P-2983/01 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Canalisation of the river Barxell (Alroy-Alicante).
Date: 2001-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, EC Directive, environmental impact, hydraulic works, inland waterway, national implementing measure, protected area, watercourse

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6.6.2002

In any event, the principal Directive which deals with the question of discrimination against, inter alia,
people with disabilities (Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2001) (1) applies only to the
employment field. It cannot, of course, be excluded that the Commission will at a future date present a
proposal for a Directive with a broader scope but, at the time of writing, no such proposal has been
received.

(1) Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in

employment and occupation (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16).

(2002/C 134 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2981/01

by Rosemarie Müller (PSE) to the Commission

(19 October 2001)

Subject:

’100 % vegetarian’ food labelling

labelled ‘100 % vegetarian’ contains animal gelatine,

If a foodstuff
is that a breach of Directive
2000/13/EC (1) of the European Parliament and the Council? Article 2(1)(a) of this Directive states that
labelling must not mislead as to the ‘characteristics of the foodstuff and, in particular, as to its nature,
identity, properties, composition, quantity, durability, origin or provenance, method of manufacture or
production’ or ‘by attributing to the foodstuff effects or properties which it does not possess’.

(1) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written E-2709/01 by Mrs Breyer (1)

(1) See page 83.

(2002/C 134 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2983/01

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Canalisation of the river Barxell (Alroy-Alicante)

(22 October 2001)

The Directorate-General for Hydraulic Works commissioned the ‘Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar’ to
draw up a project to canalise the rivers in Alcoy. The project will result in a 1500 metre urban section of
the river Barxell flowing through a concrete channel.

As a result of protests by various citizens’ organisations and the lack of rigour in the study evaluating the
environmental effects, the environmental department of Alcoy town council delivered a negative opinion
and initiated a period of public debate during which a number of modifications were put forward. In 2000
the ‘Confederación Hidrográfica’ submitted a version of the modified project to the town council without
having presented it beforehand for public debate. In any event the river is to run through a concrete
channel.

As a result of this project and along the 1500-metre stretch of the river:

D the function of environmental corridor linking two areas included in the list of SCIs proposed by the
Region of Valencia for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network will disappear and hence Directive
92/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora could be infringed;

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D the absence of an appropriate assessment of the project’s repercussions on special protection areas for

birds will affect Directive 79/409/EEC (2);

D the canalisation of this stretch of the river will also run counter to the environmental objectives laid

down Directive 2000/60/EC (3) on surface water.

What steps can the Commission take to ensure, in this particular case, correct application of Community
environmental legislation, in particular the above-mentioned directives?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Ms Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2001)

As far Council Directives 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1) and 92/43/EEC
of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna (2) are involved, the
Commission notes that there are no specially protected areas for birds nor sites of Community interest in
the town of Alcoy, where the canalisation project is to be implemented. Moreover, the impact of this
canalisation project on sites of Community interest near Alcoy cannot be said to be significant, as it
concerns a small urban section of river. The Commission therefore takes the view that these directives are
not applicable in this case.

As regards Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000
establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (3), the Commission does not
consider that it is applicable in this case, given that the deadline for the Spanish authorities to transpose it
into national law is 22 December 2003. It should also be noted that the aim of this Directive is to prevent
deterioration of the quality of waters and of the aquatic environment. The nature of the work in question
and its limited range do not suggest that this aim will be undermined.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2002/C 134 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2988/01

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(29 October 2001)

Subject: Protection of vulnerable installations against terrorist threats

The extraordinary meeting of the European Council, held on 21 September 2001 in Brussels, and the
Parliament resolution of 4 October 2001 dealt in detail with the implications of the terrorist attacks of
11 September 2001. It has now become clear that a new threat has emerged to public security.

First and foremost, the measures taken to protect vulnerable installations must be reviewed. The head of
the Reactor Safety Commission in the Federal Republic of Germany, Hahn, has stated in public that
nuclear power stations can now only be protected by means of military measures. Steps of this kind are
already being discussed in specialist bodies and ministries in the Member States.

In view of the terrorist threat which has now emerged, could the Commission answer the following
questions:

1. What is the current position regarding the measures taken to protect vulnerable installations in the
Member States (industrial plants dealing with dangerous products, nuclear power stations, reprocessing
plants)?