WRITTEN QUESTION E-2930/01 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Pollution from the Carling chemicals plant in Völklingen-Lauterbach.
Date: 2001-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Germany, access to information, chemical industry, health risk, pollution, public health, right to information

C 93 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

While the above-mentioned proposals are intended to clarify and complement certain provisions of Title
VI of Directive 2001/82/EC, no changes have been proposed to the existing rules on retail distribution
permitting only authorised persons to engage in such operations under the legislation of the Member
States.

(1) Parliament and Council Directive 2001/82/EC of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to veterinary

medicinal products, OJ L 311, 28.11.2001.

(2) Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in
live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC
and 91/664/EEC, OJ L 125, 23.5.1996.

(2002/C 93 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2930/01

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 October 2001)

Subject: Pollution from the Carling chemicals plant in Völklingen-Lauterbach

Constant pollution from the French Carling chemicals plant is endangering the health of the population of
Lauterbach in Saarland, as confirmed in a report by the Saarland technical control centre commissioned by
the Environment Ministry.

The following types of pollution were documented:

: odorous emissions exceeding the permitted levels for residential areas, which are harmful to health

and obnoxious,

: contamination of the Lauterbach, particularly at weekends,

: noise disturbance exceeding the permitted levels (50dB/A) from the Carling power plant,

: air pollution.

Despite numerous requests, the people of Lauterbach have received no information concerning pollution
from either the French firms located there or from the French authorities. Efforts by the German
authorities to obtain information have been to no avail.

In the Commission’s view, has there not been an infringement of the obligation on the French firms

1.
and authorities to provide information?

If so, what initiatives will the Commission take to ensure compliance with the obligation to provide

2.
information in the event of cross-border pollution?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that from the information provided in her
question it appears quite possible that the French authorities have failed to meet their obligations arising
out of Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on the
environment (1).

This directive, which does not impose any obligation on industrial companies that are the cause of any
pollution, requires in particular that public authorities make available any information relating to the
environment to any natural or legal person at his request.

The Commission will shortly be questioning the French authorities regarding their obligations in the case
raised by the Honourable Member.

(1) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990.