WRITTEN QUESTION E-3667/01 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Canalisation of the Poyo, Torrent, Chiva and Pozalet ravines (Valencia — Spain).
Date: 2002-01-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, environmental impact, environmental law, environmental protection, hydrology, impact study, water supply

C 172 E/106

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

The Commission is doing everything within its power to give active support to efforts to prevent or limit
the spread of knowledge on weapons of mass destruction, including biological weapons banned by the
1972 Convention on the prohibition of biological weapons of 10 April 1972.

It was in this general context that the European Union together with other international partners and the
Russian Federation set up the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) in Moscow in 1994. The
ISTC seeks to support projects in Russia and the newly independent states (NISs) aimed at redirecting
scientists involved in research into weapons of mass destruction towards research for civil purposes. The
EU is thus financing 28 % of ISTC projects, behind the United States (38 %) but ahead of Japan (12 %). The
EU is funding projects of the State Research Centre for Applied Microbiology in Obolensk (GosNIIPM),
referred to by the Honourable Member, while the Commission is currently evaluating a project on the
treatment of leukaemia proposed by this research centre.

Since 1994, from an overall budget allocation of some € 441 million ($401 million), the Commission has
put more than € 120 million into funding ISTC projects through the TACIS budget. In particular the
Commission has financed numerous biology-related projects for a total of € 15 million. The United States,
by comparison, has committed some € 165 million to funding ISTC projects, including € 31 million for
biology projects. GosNIIPM is thus receiving investment funds totalling € 8,4 million for 52 ISTC projects.

Beside the lavish support being offered by ISTC members, additional ISTC projects are being financed in
partnership with industrialists and institutional players. This is the background to the agreement between
‘Partner projects’ today represent 21 % (in value terms) of projects
Diversa Corporation and GosNIIPM.
financed by the ISTC and are backing up the ISTC’s non-proliferation efforts. The Commission encourages
and supports partnerships with European industry and has on several occasions stressed the advantages of
such funding to European research bodies. The ISTC currently has 23 European partners who alone are
financing 47 partner projects.

The ISTC is therefore a multilateral
instrument without parallel for converting the Russian and NIS
research apparatus, and the Commission attaches commensurate importance to it. The Commission
currently allocates an annual budget of € 21 million to the ISTC, and is represented at the ISTC’s Moscow
secretariat by a European executive director. In the foreseeable future the Commission intends to pursue
this human and financial commitment to developing ISTC activities in the framework of the current TACIS
programme.

(2002/C 172 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3667/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(15 January 2002)

Subject: Canalisation of the Poyo, Torrent, Chiva and Pozalet ravines (Valencia B Spain)

A resolution by Spain’s department for hydraulic works and water quality was published in the country’s
official journal 291 of 5 December 2001, containing an invitation to tender for the project to enhance and
adapt the beds of the Poyo, Torrente, Chiva and Pozalet ravines.

As the Commission is aware, following my Written Questions E-1059/00 (1) andP-2534/01 (2), as well as
the complaints lodged by Agro-Environmental Action and the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO)
(99/4430 and 99/4494), these canalisation works will have an impact on the La Albufera nature park. In
addition, a detailed study of the new draft of the project shows that the work involved will penetrate some
two kilometres inside the boundaries of the nature park.

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/107

The Commission must also be aware that the new environmental impact assessments requested have not
so far been carried out.

What measures will the Commission take in response to the approach adopted by the Spanish Ministry of
the Environment?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 114.
(2) OJ C 81 E, 4.4.2002, p. 188.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

After reading the second impact statement issued on the project, the Commission understands that the
canalisation project is suspended between kilometre points 0 and 3,9, an area which corresponds to the
special bird protection area, so long as no additional environmental and hydrological impact assessments
have been carried out for this area.

On the basis of this second impact statement, the Commission has contacted the Spanish authorities to
ascertain whether the additional studies will be carried out and whether the corrective and protective
measures referred to in the statement will be taken. The Commission also asked to be sent the studies,
once completed.

As soon as it has received this information, the Commission will examine it to ensure that Community
legislation on the environment is complied with in this case.

(2002/C 172 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3668/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: New data concerning the Júcar-Vinalopó case

(15 January 2002)

In its answer to a Written Question (P-1231/01 (1)) on the Júcar-Vinalopó water diversion project, tabled in
March 2001 by the same questioner, the Commission said that it had no knowledge of the reports by the
Spanish Ornithological Society and the Hydrographical Confederation of Júcar which, inter alia, show that
the current water diversion plan is not being carried out in accordance with Community legislation on
environmental impact reports and on the protection of birds and habitats.

The environmental organisation ADENE B which lodged a complaint which is currently being dealt with
B forwarded the report drawn up by the Spanish Ornithological Society in an e-mail dated 14 June 2001.

In view of the new data available can the Commission say:

B what steps it intends to take to stop B as revealed in the above-mentioned report B the three sites of
interest for birds located in the area from being affected by the transfer of water

international
resources from the Júcar to the Vinalopó?

B what reply it has received to date from the Spanish authorities concerning the Júcar-Vinalopó case;

B what actual stage has been reached in dealing with the complaint lodged by ADENE?

References: Written Questions E-0819/00, E-2650/00 and P-4071/00.

Reference of the complaint: 2000/4266, SG (2000), A(3835).

(1) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 229.