WRITTEN QUESTION E-3120/01 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. Animal by-products not intended for human consumption.
Date: 2001-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural by-product, agricultural waste, animal disease, domestic waste, drafting of EU law, health legislation, meat product, waste management

C 147 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

(2002/C 147 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3120/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Animal by-products not intended for human consumption

EU legislation is now under consultation regarding laying down health rules concerning animal by-
products not intended for human consumption.

Does the Commission have any plans to consult those involved in composting before the legislation comes
into force in February 2002?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 2002)

As a consequence of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, both the Parliament and the Council
requested the introduction of catering waste in the scope of the proposal for a Regulation of the
Parliament and the Council laying down the health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for
human consumption (1), in order to avoid the potential spread of animal diseases via this material.

The Commission accepted the above inclusion on the condition that it would not create unnecessary
negative consequences on the practice of composting. In line with the Commission request, the Council’s
Common Position proposes a number of steps to meet further Commission concerns.

In particular the Common Position:

1 spells out that the Regulation shall not hinder the development of new rules on environmental

protection, particularly as regards biodegradable waste;

1 establishes that catering waste shall be transformed in a biogas plant or composted in compliance with
rules adopted in accordance with the Standing Committee procedure following scientific opinion.
Pending the adoption of such rules, composting and biogas production from catering waste may
continue in accordance with existing national rules;

1 establishes that detailed rules for the use of compost as a fertiliser can be fixed by Standing Committee

procedure following scientific advice.

The Common Position is being transmitted to the Parliament for the second reading in accordance with
the co-decision procedure. The Regulation will apply six months after the adoption by the two institutions.

Eventual Community health rules on composting will be proposed by the Commission only after the
adoption of the Regulation and when scientific advice will be available.

In the draft Proposal for a Decision of the Parliament and the Council on the Sixth Environment Action
Programme ‘Environment 2010: Our future, our choice’ (2), the Commission listed as action a legislative
initiative on biodegradable waste.

Consultation on Commission proposals on composting will take place with the parties involved in this
matter, in line with usual procedures.

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/103

The Commission is aware of the problems that certain provisions of the Common Position may cause to
the separate collection of biodegradable waste.
In particular, the Commission is aware that separate
collection, composting and anaerobic digestion of biodegradable waste (catering waste included) are also
important with regard to the targets of Article 5 of Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999, on
the landfill of waste (3). The Commission is actively participating in discussions with the Parliament and the
Council in order to ensure that the goals of the Regulations are achieved without undermining separate
collection schemes.

(1) OJ C 96 E, 27.3.2001.
(2) COM(2001) 31 final.
(3) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.

(2002/C 147 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3122/01

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 November 2001)

Subject: Problems with management of CSF rail projects in Greece

According to Greek press reports, the Commissioner responsible has written to the Greek Government to
point out that there are problems with Ergose’s management of projects relating to the rail links between
Thriasio, Elefsina and Corinth, Evangelismos and Leptokarya, and electrification. These problems concern
failure to carry out surveys, running over schedule and budget, and running out of
funds before
completing the project.

What was the schedule and the original budget for the above projects?

To what extent is the work so far carried out using these appropriations at variance with the schedule and
the original budget?

Are there difficulties in carrying out the above projects? If so, where do those difficulties lie and what does
the Commission propose to do to overcome them?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

With regard to the rail network, the initial project concerned the construction of a new line of about
70 kilometres (km). It was adopted for co-financing by the Cohesion Fund in 1996 with a total cost of
€ 280 million and a work schedule until the end of 2000. In July 1999 the decision was modified because
of delays in the execution of the project. The physical object was reduced to 19,8 km principally relating
to underground works and the revised budget was set at € 120 million (43 % of the initial cost). The
completion date was maintained at the end of 2000.

In March 2001 a new phase of the project was accepted for Community co-financing. It concerns 50,2 km
of underground works and 70 km of above mentioned ground works. The new budget is fixed at € 165
million and the completion date at the end of 2005.

The project also includes the Kakia Skala section which has an important cost increase because of the
reinforced standards for building due to the last earthquake in Athens. The Commission intends to co-
finance this additional cost.

Project ‘Evagelismos-Leptokarya’

The initial project concerned the construction of a new double track railway line of about 35 km. It was
adopted for co-financing by the Cohesion Fund in 1995 with a total cost of € 251,4 million and a work
schedule until the end of 2000. In December 1999 the decision was modified because of delays in the
execution of the project. The physical object was reduced to 24 km principally relating to underground
works and the revised budget was set at € 307 million (122 % of the initial cost). The completion date was
maintained at the end of 2000.