WRITTEN QUESTION E-1242/02 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Project to protect the Poetto coastline in Sardinia (Italy).
Date: 2002-04-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sardinia, application of EU law, coastal protection, environmental impact, environmental law

C 301 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Consequently, if a merchant ship’s DSC MF/HF transmitter breaks down, it can communicate via another
equivalent on-board radiocommunication apparatus (e.g. an Inmarsat station or another DSC MF/HF
station), thereby guaranteeing the safety of shipping and safeguarding human life at sea.

In this light, the Commission does not intend to propose mandatory installation of two DSC MF/HF
transmitter-receivers.

(2002/C 301 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1232/02

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

(29 April 2002)

Subject: ERDF funding of rural cellular telephone access (TRAC) in Galicia

The Spanish Ministry of Government (Ministerio de la Presidencia) has issued a communication stating that
Spain has taken steps to improve the appalling conditions suffered by rural cellular telephone access
(TRAC) subscribers in Galicia, that the Commission had been made aware of the need to extend the
concept of universal service, and that this new Directive has finally incorporated the Spanish proposals.
The new European Parliament and Council Directive on universal service and users’ rights in relation to
electronic communications networks and services acknowledges that the replacement of TRAC facilities
shall remain guaranteed within the framework of universal service, once the national laws transposing the
Directive have come into force. Has the Spanish Government requested ERDF investment for replacing
rural cellular telephone access (TRAC) facilities in Galicia?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 2002)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-0855/02 (1) on
the request of the Spanish authorities for financial support for the project in question. The Directive on
Universal Service (2) defines universal service as covering a range of specified services, including functional
Internet access, provided to subscribers at affordable prices. The directive is ‘technology neutral’ in the
sense that it does not require the use of any given technology to provide these services.

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 150.
(2) Directive 2002/22/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users’ rights

relating to electronic communications networks and services, OJ L 108, 24.4.2002.

(2002/C 301 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1242/02

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Project to protect the Poetto coastline in Sardinia (Italy)

(30 April 2002)

The Province of Cagliari is currently implementing a project to protect the Poetto coastline in the Cagliari
and Quartu S. Elena municipalities of Sardinia (Italy), on the basis of Ministry of the Interior Order
(civil protection) No 2878 of 20 October 1998 and with EUR 15 493 707 of Community funds from the
1994-1999 CSF. This project, which was approved by the relevant departments at their meeting of
30 August 1999, provides for an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC (1)
(decisions of environmental protection officials of the autonomous Region of Sardinia No 3152 of
9 November 1999 and No 1893/V of 21 September 2001). It also provides, in particular, for the building
of a new road along the Quartu S. Elena salt marshes, which will involve the complete removal of the
former coastal road, the rehabilitation of the dune system and pine-forest and the gradual refurbishment of
the Poetto beach over a period of two years, with 370 000 m3 of sand of the same type as that of that
beach.

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/113

It would seem that none of the above measures has yet been completed, and there are doubts as to
whether the project is being implemented as approved. These doubts concern, in particular, the supply of
sand, which has taken place in recent weeks within a period of 15 days and whose type is different from
the type laid down in the plan. This is liable to cause serious damage to the protected ecosystems, and
especially to the posidonia oceanica meadow.

The environmental organisations ‘Friends of the Earth’ and ‘Legal Intervention Group’ have approached the
Community, national and local authorities, asking for checks to be carried out to ascertain whether the
project is being properly implemented. As a result, the Commission has opened procedure No 99/4811.

Is the Commission aware of the above?

Has it checked whether the legislation on the protection of natural and semi-natural habitats (Directive No
92/43/EEC) and the actual project stipulations, as officially approved and funded by the Community, are
being complied with?

Does it intend to take appropriate action on the matter?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2002)

As mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission has opened an infringement file further to a
complaint on the project to protect the Poetto coastline in Cagliari (including an urban road and associated
developments) and is assessing a possible breach of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, with reference to the possible implications on
the Special Protection Area ((SPA) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the
conservation of wild birds (1)) Stagno di Molentargius (ITB044002) and on the proposed Site of
Community Importance (pSCI under Directive 92/43/EEC, Stagno di Molentargius e territori
limitrofi
(ITB040022). Should the Commission come to the conclusion that Community law is being breached in
the specific case, it would not hesitate, as the guardian of the EC Treaty, to take all necessary measures,
including infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to ensure compliance with
the relevant Community law.

The shore refilling carried out in the last few weeks is not part of the investigation made in the framework
of the above mentioned complaint. In any event, the information given by the Honourable Member on this
in relation to the
issue is not sufficiently detailed. As there are insufficient grounds of complaint
application of Directive 92/43/EEC to the issue, no potential breach of the directive mentioned above can
be identified at present. Should the Honourable Member provide more detailed information enabling the
Commission to assess the implications of the shore refilling on habitats and species present in the pSCI,
the Commission would be able to investigate this matter as well.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2002/C 301 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1264/02

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 April 2002)

Subject: Reopening of Mont Blanc tunnel

The Commission’s intention to reopen the Mont Blanc tunnel to international heavy goods traffic is sure to
lead to various types of nuisance and pollution. The approach which it is encouraging runs contrary to the
general interest in Europe as a whole and this decision is completely at odds with various policy decisions
taken recently by the European Union.