WRITTEN QUESTION E-2935/01 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Failure of the Spanish authorities to take action to stop the deterioration of the river Segura (Spain).
Date: 2001-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Region of Murcia, environmental monitoring, infringement of EU law, pollution control measures, pollution of waterways

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/63

(2002/C 147 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2935/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(24 October 2001)

Subject: Failure of the Spanish authorities to take action to stop the deterioration of the river Segura

(Spain)

Murcia Court of Instruction No 4 has just agreed to initiate criminal proceedings against the River Segura
Hydrographic Confederation (Confederación Hidrográfica del río Segura) and the regional government in
respect of the criminal insalubriousness of the waters of the river, and the damage thereby caused to the
environment. Those bringing the charges, who include the Asociacíon Pro-Río de Orihuela (Alicante) and
Ecologistas en Acción, have also announced their intention of bringing charges at the European Court of
Justice with regard to the abuse by the Spanish authorities of funds granted by the European Union for the
improvement and conservation of the river.

The Spanish authorities, despite the fact that they have received significant Community aid, and being
charged at the European Court for violation of Directives 76/464/EEC (1) (discharges into the aquatic
environment) and 91/271/EEC (2) (treatment of urban waste water), have clearly still not met the stated
objective of decontaminating the Segura.

Would the Commission please provide details of how the proceedings it opened against Spain for polluting
the river Segura were resolved, specifying the contents of the various replies to its demands received from
the Spanish authorities?

What fresh action does the Commission intend to undertake to stop the deterioration of the river Segura?

(1) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976, p. 23.
(2) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2001)

The Commission is aware of the problems connected with the implementation in Spain of Council
Directive 76/464/EEC of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into
the aquatic environment of the Community (1). Following the infringement proceedings the Commission
initiated under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty, the Court of Justice ruled against Spain (2) for
failure to implement programmes to reduce the pollution of water by certain dangerous substances on list
II in the Annex to Directive 76/464/EEC, as required by Article 7 of the Directive. The Court of Justice has
also ruled against other Member States for this reason.

The Spanish authorities have taken various steps in order to resolve the problem. These include the
adoption of hydrological basin plans for the inland waters concerned. In addition, Law 29/1985 on water
has been substantially amended in this respect by Law 46/1999. The Spanish authorities have also notified
the adoption of Royal Decree 995/2000 of 2 June 2000, which sets quality objectives for certain
dangerous substances.

The measures adopted by Spain are a positive step towards fulfilling the obligations arising from Directive
76/464/EEC, in particular Article 7 thereof. However, the Commission considers that the abovementioned
judgment of the Court of Justice has not been fully complied with. For this reason, a letter of formal notice
has been sent to Spain, pursuant to Article 228 (ex Article 171) of the EC Treaty.

The Commission is now examining Spain’s reply. The Spanish authorities have sent in a report from the
Ministry of the Environment on the preparation of programmes to reduce pollution by the substances on
list
II provided for in Article 7 of Directive 76/464/EEC, as well as information concerning the
Autonomous Communities.

C 147 E/64

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

The situation of the River Segura will be improved by these measures. The Spanish authorities have
informed the Commission of the Segura basin environmental recovery plan currently being drawn up by
the Ministry of the Environment and the Autonomous Communities of Murcia and Valencia, which will
include the building of purification plants, agreements between the authorities and industry, administrative
monitoring measures and major investment.

the river Segura is included under Priority 3 (Environment) of

The cleaning up of
the integrated
operational programme for the Murcia region which forms part of the Community Support Framework for
Objective 1 regions in Spain for the period 2000-2006. Community aid from the Structural Funds for all
the Priority 3 measures totals € 428,5 million. Moreover, projects concerning the cleaning up and
purification of the waters of the Segura basin are also eligible for cofinancing from the Cohesion Fund.

(1) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976.
(2)

Judgment in case C-214/96, 25.11.1998.

(2002/C 147 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2938/01

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 October 2001)

Subject: Radar systems at airports

The serious accident that occurred on 8 October 2001 at Linate airport in Milan involving a runway
collision between a scheduled airliner and a small private jet raises serious concerns in that the airport was
not equipped with ground radar for controlling air traffic.

Although this technical equipment exists in other European airports its installation is not compulsory.

Does the Commission not think that it would be useful to require the installation of ground radar systems
to control runway movements at the larger and busier airports in the Union in order to prevent similar
disasters in the future?

(2002/C 147 E/066)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2940/01

by Massimo Carraro (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE),
Giovanni Fava (PSE), Giovanni Pittella (PSE), Paolo Costa (ELDR)
and Luigi Cocilovo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 October 2001)

Subject: Accident at Linate airport

In view of the serious accident that occurred on 8 October 2001 at Linate airport, can the Commission
say:

1. what it intends to do to ensure adequate safety standards at European airports;

2. whether there are currently plans for European regulations to make flight authorisation conditional

upon effective radar systems;

3. whether there are plans for European regulations to ensure adequate and uniform standards for

runway signs at European airports?