WRITTEN QUESTION E-0477/02 by Gianfranco Dell'Alba (NI) to the Commission. Infringement procedure No 1999/4715 concerning the Lotto Zero project: alternative to state road SS 80 between Teramo and Giulianova.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, environmental impact, environmental protection, infringement procedure (EU), road building

C 205 E/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

(2002/C 205 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0465/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Establishment of four ginned cotton quality control centres in Greece

A scheme to set up four ginned cotton quality control, classification and standardisation centres with a
purpose of creating modern infrastructures to improve the quality and marketing of Greek cotton has been
included in the second CSF and in the regional operational programmes for Eastern Macedonia ( Thrace,
Central Macedonia, Thessaly and Eastern Mainland Greece. According to the project timetable, these four
centres were due to be completed and to begin operating by the end of 1999.

1. Will the Commission say at what stage has construction work reached in each of the four centres?
What funding has so far been allocated to them? How and when will they be completed and begin
operating?

2. What guarantees has the Commission received about the proper functioning of the centres, given
that the Cotton Organisation, which had been designated as the competent body, has been abolished and
its specialised staff who were due to work at the centres have been transferred to other services?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2002)

The situation as regards progress on the four regional centres is as follows:

( for the regional programmes for Central Macedonia and Continental Greece, preparatory studies were
finalised under the 1994-1999 Community Support Framework (CSF), costing € 0,3 million for each
of the two centres. Construction and fitting out of the centres is scheduled under the 2000-2006 CSF
in accordance with the procedures laid down there, i.e. submission of a data sheet to the respective
managing authorities for the two programmes, to be evaluated on the basis of the selection criteria
adopted by the programme Monitoring Committees;

( for the regional programmes for East Macedonia ( Thrace and Thessaly, the studies and construction
work were finalised under the 1994-1999 CSF at a total cost of € 1,51 million and € 3,79 million
respectively. The equipment is to be purchased under the 2000-2006 CSF in accordance with the
same procedure as outlined above.

All four centres were proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture which is studying the setting up of a
management body for the centres since the Cotton Organisation which was to oversee their operation no
longer exists. The selection criteria adopted clearly prevent the programme managing authorities from
taking any decision unless the respective data sheets clearly guarantee that the part-financed projects will
function properly. The Commission is aware of the fact that the managing body for the centres has not yet
been established and will follow this matter closely.

(2002/C 205 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0477/02

by Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Infringement procedure No 1999/4715 concerning the ‘Lotto Zero’ project: alternative to state

road SS 80 between Teramo and Giulianova

On 26 July 2001 the Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Italy concerning the infringement of
Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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In its opinion, the Commission stated that Italy had not met its obligations under Article 4(2) of Directive
85/337/EEC, as it had not checked whether the project to construct a by-pass to the city of Teramo (‘Lotto
Zero’ project: alternative to state road SS 80 between Teramo and Giulianova) ( a project covered by
Annex II of Directive 85/337/EEC ( required an environmental impact assessment under Articles 5 to 10
of that directive.

Under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, the Commission called on Italy to take the necessary steps to comply
with its reasoned opinion.

In view of the above:

( what stage has the above infringement procedure now reached and, specifically, has Italy taken the

necessary steps to comply with the Commission’s opinion?

( If so, what measures have been taken, and does the Commission consider them to be appropriate and

satisfactory?

( If Italy has not taken the necessary measures, how does the Commission intend to act?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2002)

On the basis of Article 226 of the EC Treaty, ‘if the Commission considers, that a Member State has failed
to fulfil an obligation under this Treaty, it shall deliver a reasoned opinion on the matter after giving the
State concerned the opportunity to submit its observations. If the State concerned does not comply with
the opinion within the period laid down by the Commission, the latter may bring the matter before the
Court of Justice.’

The last development in the procedure, under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, mentioned by the Honourable
Member is the decision of the Commission to make an application to the Court. In the opinion of the
Commission, Italy has breached Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the
effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1) in this specific case. The contents of
infringment procedures are confidential.

The Parliament is regularly informed of the status of all infringement procedures under way. Details about
the stage of infringement procedures against all Member States, which have at least been made the subject
of a reasoned opinion, can be found in the ‘Reports on monitoring the application of Community law’
annually published from the Commission.

Information concerning infringement procedures are also published, and frequently updated, on the
Commission’s Europa Internet site (2).

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985 as modified by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/droit_com/index_en.htm#infractions.

(2002/C 205 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0478/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2002)

Subject: Treatment centre for solid urban waste at Gomacello (Salamanca, Spain)

A project to build a solid urban waste treatment centre at Gomacello (Salamanca) is the process of being
approved. This project is encountering strong local opposition focused on the ‘Collective against the
Gomacello waste dump’.