WRITTEN QUESTION P-0508/02 by Pietro-Paolo Mennea (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Waste disposal site in Trani.
Date: 2002-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: application of EU law, environmental protection, health risk, public health, waste management

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/205

adopted Directive (4) on electricity from renewable energy sources and the proposed Directive (5) on energy
efficiency in buildings.

(1) Report under Council Decision 93/389/EEC as amended by Decision 1999/296/EC for a monitoring mechanism of

Community greenhouse gas emissions, COM(2001) 708 final.

(2) Council Decision 1999/296/EC of 26 April 1999 amending Decision 93/389/EEC for a monitoring mechanism of

Community CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, OJ L 117, 5.5.1999.

(3) http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/enveco/climate_change/sectoral_objectives.htm.
(4) Directive 2001/77/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity

produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market.

(5) Directive proposal on the energy performance of buildings, OJ C 213 E, 31.7.2001.

(2002/C 172 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0508/02

by Pietro-Paolo Mennea (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2002)

Subject: Waste disposal site in Trani

According to reports in the local and national press and the views expressed by a very large number of
local inhabitants, who are extremely alarmed about the situation, the new waste disposal site in Trani
presents a real threat to the environment.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

Can it say whether all the relevant permits were granted in accordance with all the environmental
protection directives adopted by the European Union?

Can it say whether the operation of this waste disposal site could in future give rise to the risk of fires,
contamination of the groundwater table and the formation of biogases, thus endangering the health of
local inhabitants?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 2002)

The treatment of waste is regulated at Community level by Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July
1975 (1) as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 on waste (2), in particular its
Article 4, which states that waste must be disposed of or recovered without endangering human health or
the environment.

Since 16 July 2001 new landfills have to fulfil the requirements of Council Directive 1999/31/EC of
26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (3).

In addition, for landfills receiving more than 10 tonnes per day or with a total capacity exceeding 25 000
tonnes, excluding landfills for inert waste, the provisions of Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September
1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) (4) must be applied.

Depending on the type of the landfill and the possible effects on the environment an impact assessment
according to Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (5) amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC of
27 June 1985 (6) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment
could be required.

The Commission has the task of ensuring the correct application of Community law, in the light of the
powers conferred on it by the EC Treaty. As the guardian of the Treaty, it does not hesitate to take all
necessary measures, including infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to
ensure the observance of Community law.

C 172 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

However, on the basis of the information given by the Honourable Member, due to a lack of grounds of
complaint on the application of EC law, no breach of
it can be identified at present. Should the
Honourable Member provide detailed information enabling the Commission to assess the issues in relation
to the above mentioned directive, the Commission would also be able to investigate this matter.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.
(3) OJ L 282, 16.7.1999.
(4) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.
(5) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(6) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2002/C 172 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0512/02

by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Sport

Sport does not fall within the Community’s sphere of competence, but given its close ties with the
freedoms inherent in the single market, it is becoming increasingly associated with matters under the first
pillar.

Will the Commission provide a detailed list of all measures and actions connected with sport or with
sportsmen and women during the current term of office?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 2002)

As stated by the Honourable Member, the Treaty does not give the Community any specific competence
with regard to sport.

Nevertheless, sport is directly affected by various provisions of the EC Treaty.

Owing to the growing economic dimension of sport, several Community policies, including competition
policy and freedom of movement for persons, goods and services, have had a direct impact on the
organisation and development of sport. However, sport is also implicated in health and research policies,
as well as education, vocational training and youth programmes. During the Commission’s current term of
office, sport has been addressed by all these policies in different ways. For example, the Commission has
taken decisions concerning sport in the context of competition policies, e.g. covering training assistance. In
the field of education, a Commission proposal to make 2004 the European Year of Education through
Sport is being considered by the Institutions.

The European Council, in its declaration appended to the conclusions of the Nice Council of December
2000 (1), also emphasised the need for all Community action to take account of the ‘social, educational and
cultural functions inherent in sport and making it special, in order that the code of ethics and the solidarity
essential to the preservation of its social role may be respected and nurtured’.

(1) Declaration on the specific characteristics of sport and its social function in Europe, of which account should be

taken in implementing common policies.