WRITTEN QUESTION E-0618/02 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Corrubedo wetlands, Couso (La Coruña — Spain).
Date: 2002-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, environmental law, infringement of EU law, infringement procedure (EU), protected area, shipbuilding

C 205 E/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

A Green Paper on the future of the common fisheries policy (4) was published in 2001 and on the basis of
the ensuing discussions with all interested parties, including Parliament, the Commission is now finalising a
communication on reform of the CFP that includes training and safety. Both the communication and
number of regulatory proposals for the new CFP after 2002 will be sent to Parliament before the summer.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.
(3) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992.
(4) COM(2001) 135 final.

(2002/C 205 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0617/02

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Regional programmes of innovative schemes

(6 March 2002)

The Inforegio/News bulletin of January 2002 reports that the Commission has completed negotiations on
58 regional programmes of innovative schemes.

Can the Commission say how many programmes of innovative schemes were rejected in Spain and why
they were rejected?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

Of the 18 Spanish proposals for regional programmes of innovative actions presented to the Commission
by 31 May 2001, 17 of them,
funding of over EUR 80 million and a Community
contribution of more than EUR 45 million, have been or are in the process of being approved.

involving total

The one proposal rejected was judged to be of insufficient quality when set against the ten criteria
published in the Commission Communication (1) because the priority given to communications
infrastructure measures corresponded more to a traditional operational programme than to a programme
of truly innovative actions.

(1) The regions and the new economy 9 Guidelines for innovative actions under the European Regional Development

Fund (ERDF) in 2000-2006 9 COM(2001) 60 final.

(2002/C 205 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0618/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Corrubedo wetlands, Couso (La Coruña 9 Spain)

(6 March 2002)

Even though the Corrubedo wetlands (Complejo Húmedo de Corrubedo) was included by the Galician
Government in the list of areas making up the Natura 2000 network, permits and authorisations are still
being granted for the construction of ships and siting of industrial units in this protected area.

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in processing the complaint submitted to the
Commission on this subject (2001/4904, SG (2001) A/8849/2)?

Can the Commission say what response it has received to date from the Spanish authorities?

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/175

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2002)

The Commission can confirm that the complaint registered as 2001/4904 is now being examined,
together with other dossiers on the same subject.

As the examination is in progress, there has not so far been any exchange of correspondence with the
national authorities.

(2002/C 205 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0619/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(6 March 2002)

Subject: Incompatibility of the Spanish government’s nuclear power policy with the Kyoto agreements

The Spanish government, which currently occupies the EU presidency, has now approved an environ-
mental impact assessment concerning the creation of 22 new nuclear power stations within its territory. In
addition, the construction of another 49 such stations has been announced, entailing an extra 31 000 to
36 000 megawatts of power and additional emissions of 108 to 125 million tonnes of CO2 per annum.

In this connection, particular attention needs to be drawn to the case, as denounced by Greenpeace, of the
planned extension of the Endesa power station in Carboneras (Almería province), which, if it goes ahead,
would raise its power level as high as 1 859 to 1 959 megawatts and make it Spain’s biggest producer of
CO2 emissions, to a maximum exceeding 14 million tonnes per annum.

Does the Commission consider these plans for extending and constructing nuclear power stations to be
consistent and compatible with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and its targets for reducing CO2
emissions?

Will the Commission make representations to the Spanish government, the current occupant of the EU’s
six-month presidency, to ask it to reconsider its existing policy on nuclear power stations and bring it into
line with the targets of the Protocol?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2002)

The choice of sources of energy supply is the competence of Member States.

Member States also decide how to meet the politically agreed emission reduction targets. Under certain
circumstances, new power plants may help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This may be for instance
the case, when new efficient power plants based on less carbon dioxide (CO2) intensive fuels (e.g. gas)
replace old inefficient coal-fired power plants, which are relatively CO2 intensive (also called fuel switch
effect). It should be noted that under Community legislation relating to large combustion plants (1), power
plants have to meet emission standards in relation to emissions of e.g. sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
oxides (NOX). Measures on the supply side are, however, unlikely to be sufficient to achieve agreed
emission targets. Demand side measures such as increased energy efficiency are also essential.

Council Decision 1999/296/EC amending Decision 93/389/EEC (2) for a monitoring mechanism establishes
a continuous surveillance of Community CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions.