WRITTEN QUESTION E-1074/02 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The Horse Country equestrian centre in a site of Community importance at San Vero Milis, Oristano.
Date: 2002-04-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sardinia, environmental impact, equidae, exchange of information, protected area, sports facilities, tourist infrastructure

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/175

(2002/C 229 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1074/02

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: The ‘Horse Country’ equestrian centre in a site of Community importance at San Vero Milis,

Oristano

An equestrian centre for tourists, to be called ‘Horse Country’, is being built in the municipality of San
Vero Milis in the province of Oristano in Sardinia. The project is being financed by the Region of Sardinia
and the Province of Oristano and is to be located partly in a site of Community importance (SCI), code
number ITB 030038. The site, covering 84 hectares, includes the ponds of Putzu Idu (Salina Manna and
Pauli Marigosa), where the famous pink flamingos and other important bird and animal species are to be
the area. Apparently no
found. The earth-movers are perceptibly changing the natural habitat of
assessment of the environmental impact and implications has been carried out.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

In view of Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC (1) can the Commission take steps to preserve the site in
question and ensure that the project, which is already underway, is subjected to checks on the basis of the
EIA procedure (2) and to an environmental impact assessment?

Can the Commission ascertain whether or not Community funding has been used to finance the project 9
for example via the Territorial Pact for Oristano or any other instrument 9 and suspend funding until it is
ascertained that the project is compatible with Community law?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(2) Cf. Directive 97/11/EC, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2002)

On the basis of the information provided by the Honourable Member, it appears that the holiday village
project known as ‘Horse Country’ in San Vero Milis (Oristano) could have a significant effect on the
proposed Site of Community Importance (pSCI) ‘Stagni di Putzu Idu (Salina Manna e Pauli Marigosa)
ITB00038’ under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats
and of wild fauna and flora. This pSCI contains 3 priority habitats.

Under Article 6, paragraph 3, of Directive 92/43/EEC, with reference to the sites which, according to the
procedure laid down by the Directive, will be listed as Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and which
will be designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) ‘any plan or project not directly connected with
or necessary to the management of
thereon, either
individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to appropriate assessment of
its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objective’.

likely to have a significant effect

the site but

Although the above mentioned provision is not fully binding for proposed Sites of Community Importance
(pSCI), Member States have certain obligations with reference to pSCI to act in a way so as to ensure that
the aims of the Directive are not jeopardised. In particular, they are advised to at least abstain from all
activities that may affect the integrity of a proposed site (especially when it contains priority habitats or
species).

In this specific case, not being aware of
Commission will take the appropriate steps in order to gather detailed information about it.

the situation described by the Honourable Member,

the

Should the Commission be informed that Community law is being breached in this specific case, it would
not hesitate, as guardian of
including infringement
procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, to ensure that the relevant provisions of Community law
are observed.

to take all necessary measures,

the EC Treaty,

C 229 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

to the Commission by the regional and municipal authorities
According to the information sent
concerned, the equestrian centre project in San Vero Milis does not receive Community financing but is
part of an integrated area project financed by regional funds only.

(2002/C 229 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1076/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Varying degrees of resistance to Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and lack of hospital treatment as a

result of quarantine

Can the Commission confirm that the ‘hospital bacterium’ Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is only
1.
1,5 % resistant to treatment with antibiotics in Dutch hospitals whereas in Belgian hospitals it is 30 %
resistant because of the much greater use of antibiotics, and that as a result many infections caused by this
bacterium are no longer treatable in Belgium?

2.
Is the Commission aware that survivors of the huge fire at the cafe in Volendam in the Netherlands
on 1 January 2001, who were treated in Belgian hospitals for a long period because of lack of capacity in
the Netherlands, were kept in quarantine after their return to the Netherlands in the Heliomare facility in
Beverwijk and that one of these patients died in July 2001 because her heart valve had been weakened by
MRSA and she could not be taken to hospital for investigation and treatment because of quarantine
requirements?

3. What can be done to prevent a situation in which necessary medical treatment cannot be given
because of quarantine requirements?

4.
How can people who fall sick during a visit to a Member State other than their home country or
who have to undergo medical treatment abroad be better informed about the risks they run and how these
risks can be reduced?

Does the Commission have figures relating to the situation in other EU Member States and in the

5.
twelve candidate countries?

6. What steps can be taken to bring down the level of resistance in Member States with high resistance
and to prevent resistance increasing in those Member States with a lower level of resistance? What
measures are being taken in areas with a low resistance to antibiotics to protect
them against
contamination from areas with a high level of resistance?

Source: Dutch TV programme ‘Kruispunt’ of 17 March 2002 and Flemish newspaper ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ of
19 March 2002.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2002)

1.
Since 1998 the Commission has been supporting a laboratory based European Antimicrobial
Resistance Surveillance Scheme (EARSS) on the susceptibility of blood isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.
For the period 1999-2001 EARSS reported a proportion of 21-23 % blood isolates of Methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for Belgium and 0,1-0,3 % for the Netherlands. The Commission does not
have sufficient information to explain the reasons for this difference. An important step to link the
resistance development to the use of antimicrobial agents has been taken with the support of the ESAC
project (see 6).