WRITTEN QUESTION E-0981/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Waste tips in Greece and the destruction of archaological sites.
Date: 2002-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: archaeology, complaint to the Commission, earths and stones, environmental protection, heritage protection, infringement procedure (EU), unauthorised dumping, waste management

C 277 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

There is no evidence of the presence of asbestos in any other European Schools, and consequently no
related risk to the health of the pupils.

The Board of Governors, which consists of 15 representatives of Member State governments and one
representative of the Commission, has set up a special structure to prepare the schools for the enlargement
of the Union. The existing infrastructures will be extended with the creation of two new Schools (one in
Brussels and one in Luxembourg) and new sections for the languages of the new Member States. In
addition, pilot projects will be launched to improve the reception of new pupils and, among other
changes, the organisation of teaching and school management will be rationalised.

In order to respect all the official languages in the teaching schedule, the Board of Governors already
places strong emphasis on mother-tongue teaching. There is every reason to believe that this existing
policy will be continued and strengthened and that, when the new Member States join, the Board of
Governors will maintain the approach taken in previous enlargements.

Finally, the Commission would like to point out that, according to the preamble to the Convention of
17 June 1994, the European Schools system ‘fully acknowledges the Member States’ responsibility for the
content of teaching and the organisation of their educational system, and for their cultural and linguistic
diversity.’

(1) See page 112.
(2) See page 86.
(3) The Convention has not yet entered into force as it is awaiting ratification by Greece.

(2002/C 277 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0981/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 April 2002)

Subject: Waste tips in Greece and the destruction of archaological sites

According to Greek newspaper reports, an unsupervised waste tip is operating at the archaeological site of
Parikia on the island of Paros in the Cyclades. This waste tip is located at Lakki, the site of the famous
open quarries of Parian marble (ancient Greek, dating from the 6th century BC); this has been designated an
archaeological site. It should be pointed out that the island of Paros is a very popular tourist destination,
and the operation of this waste tip at the archaeological site in question is an eyesore and an insult to this
site of great antiquity. The project to develop the galleries of the quarry is included in the proposals drawn
up by the 21st section of the Inspectorate for Pre-historical and Classical Antiquities for incorporation in
the third CSF, which shows the importance of finds in the area.

What view does the Commission take of the fact that a waste tip is operating at an archaeological site?
What information has it received from the Greek authorities about the closure of waste tips which pollute
the soil, the air and the groundwater in very many regions of Greece? Has any progress been made in the
planning of sites for the safe burial of waste in all regions of Greece? If not, who is responsible for delays?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2002)

The treatment of waste is regulated by Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste (1) as
amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 (2).

Article 4 of this Directive states that waste must be disposed of without endangering human health and
without using processes or methods which could harm the environment, and in particular:

@ without risk to the water, air, soil and plants and animals,

@ without causing a nuisance through noise and odours,

@ without adversely affecting the countryside or places of special interest.

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/121

Moreover, Member States shall take the necessary measures to prohibit the abandonment, dumping or
uncontrolled disposal of waste.

In addition, any establishment or undertaking, which carries out disposal operations, must obtain a permit
from the competent authority.

The Commission has started infringement procedures following complaints about landfills that do not
comply with Community legislation. Furthermore, concerning illegal dumps in Greece, the Commission
shall take all the necessary measures, in order to ensure that the provisions of Directive 75/442/EEC as
amended are applied.

The new Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (3), which has come into
effect on 16 July 2001, specifies the minimum requirements for design, operation, closure and after-care of
landfills and will help to improve the management of new landfills in the Community. The Commission
has already launched an infringement procedure against Greece for non-communication of its trans-
position measures.

The Commission invites the Honourable Member to submit more detailed information on this landfill in
Paros. This information will be analysed with a view to assessing if Greece has violated its obligations
derived from Community environmental law in this case.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.
(3) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.

(2002/C 277 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0986/02

by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 April 2002)

Subject: First Progress Report on Cohesion

The figures for Madeira’s per capita GDP as a proportion of the Community average (72 %) given in the
First Progress Report on Cohesion aroused a mixture of surprise, satisfaction and concern in the
questioner. In actual fact the change was much more significant than expected, because of the change in
the method of calculating national accounts after 1999. Madeira progressed from 54,5 % of
the
Community average (mentioned in the Second Report on Cohesion published in 2001) to the 72 %
mentioned in the First Progress Report.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. what changes in the criteria for calculating national accounts explain such a significant change in the

GDP of the Autonomous Region of Madeira;

2.

to what extent each of the changes was responsible for the new figures?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 May 2002)

The Portuguese regional accounts in the First Progress Report on Economic and Social Cohesion adopted
by the Commission on 30 January 2002 (1) were compiled in line with Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/
96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community
(ESA 95) (2). For the data in the Second Report on Economic and Social Cohesion adopted on 31 January
2001 (3), the old national accounts system (ESA 79) was used.