WRITTEN QUESTION P-0822/02 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Channelling and development work on the River Barxell in Alcoy (Alicante).
Date: 2002-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, complaint to the Commission, environmental impact, exchange of information, groundwater, pipeline transport, project evaluation, protection of animal life, protection of plant life

C 229 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

(2002/C 229 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0818/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Dwindling population and the rate of unemployment in Galicia

European reports on employment and regional development agree that in the European Union there is a
direct link between unemployment and low per capita income, so that the regions least affected by
unemployment, with an average of 2,7 %, basically belong to the rich regions, whilst those most affected
by unemployment, with an average of 21,9 %, are situated in the least developed countries. In this context,
and against the background of a dwindling population in Galicia, the latest unemployment figures for
Spain show that the rate in Galicia reached 12,88 % in February, without there being any sign of mobility
among the working population which might suggest a change for the better in the short or medium term.

What steps taken by the Council in the process started in Lisbon and continued in Barcelona in the
interests of sustainable development, poverty reduction, greater social cohesion,
full employment 0
particularly for the benefit of women 0 and promoting the quality of work may be destined to make a
positive and significant change in the situation of the working population and employment in an area such
as Galicia, and thus enable it to overcome its situation of comparative backwardness?

Reply

(27 June 2002)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to its reply to Written Question E-0589/02 on the
Lisbon strategy, put by Elisa Damião. The case of Galicia must be approached in accordance with the
principles of that strategy.

(2002/C 229 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0822/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(19 March 2002)

Subject: Channelling and development work on the River Barxell in Alcoy (Alicante)

Can the Commission state what progress has been made on Complaint 2001/4783, SG (2001) A/9437
submitted by the ‘Colla Ecologista la Carrasca’ environmental association on the project for channelling,
protection and development work on the River Barxell, the first stage of which focuses on the San Jorge
viaduct in Alcoy (Alicante)?

In the Commission’s view, to what extent does this project fail to comply with Community law, with
particular reference to Directives 97/62/EC (1), 92/43/EEC (2) and 79/409/EEC (3)?

Does it consider the project to be in keeping with the provisions of the water policy framework directive
(2000/60/EC (4))?

(1) OJ L 305, 8.11.1997, p. 42.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2002)

The Commission has received a complaint, registered under the reference number 2001/4783, on the
project of canalisation of the urban stretch of the river Barxell in Alcoy (Spain).

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/143

Pursuant to this complaint, the Commission has addressed a letter to the Spanish authorities in order to
request their comments on the facts raised by the complainant and on the application of the following
Council Directives:

0 92/43/EEC of 21 may 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora;

0 79/409/EEC of 2 april 1979 on the conservation of wild birds;

0 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on

the environment (1).

In their reply, the Spanish authorities have informed the Commission that the project is to be executed
within an urban area and will not affect any Site of Community Interest or Zone of Special Protection for
Birds.

The Spanish authorities add that an environmental assessment was conducted in compliance with the
current Spanish hydraulic legislation. This study was subject to a public consultation procedure.

The Commission is currently assessing the information provided by the Spanish authorities relating to the
presence of the stripe-necked terrapin (mauremys leprosa) in the area. This species is included in Annexes
II and IV of the Habitats Directive.

Finally, concerning Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000
establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, the Commission considers
that it does not apply in this case.

(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.

(2002/C 229 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0827/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 March 2002)

Subject: Staffing of Directorate-General for Education and Culture

In my question No. E-2810/01 (1), I requested information concerning the staffing of the Directorate-
General for Education and Culture. In her reply, Commissioner Reding provided some highly interesting
information which did not, however, answer my questions. The distinguished Commissioner, who has had
a very successful term of office to date, informs me that the Commission enlists the assistance of experts in
various disciplines selected on the basis of lists provided by the Member States and that the Commission
regularly consults cultural bodies throughout Europe. My request, however, was for
information
concerning the permanent and other staff (officials, temporary and auxiliary personnel) employed by the
Education and Culture DG.

Will the Commission say how many ethnologists, historians, archaeologists, sociologists, anthropologists
and philologists work in the Education and Culture DG as permanent and auxiliary staff? What is the
proportion of experts in those disciplines in relation to the total number of permanent, temporary and
auxiliary staff working in that DG? Is it a condition of employment in the Education and Culture DG to
have an academic or professional background in the above disciplines?

(1) OJ C 134 E, 6.6.2002, p. 112.