WRITTEN QUESTION E-1289/02 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Proposed motorway between Los Realejos and Icod de los Vinos (Tenerife, Spain).
Date: 2002-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Canary Islands, EU financing, Spain, application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental law, environmental protection, motorway

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/115

However, this reopening is, by no means, a long-term solution, which must instead take the form of a
consistent package of measures, as described in the White Paper ‘European transport policy for 2010: time
to decide’ (1), designed, amongst other things, to provide a lasting solution to the problem of transit traffic
across the Alps.

Accordingly, the Commission considers that the absolute priority of controlling road traffic flows in the
Alpine region implies greater use of more environment-friendly modes, particularly rail. This alternative
depends on a number of conditions. Better targeted use of the existing railway infrastructure is, as the
Honourable Member stresses, essential as a first step but will not suffice, given the current situation of the
railways. They will not be able to offer a competitive alternative to intra-European road freight without
substantial improvements in quality of service. This is why, at the start of this year, the Commission
submitted a communication entitled ‘Towards an integrated European railway area’ (2) containing a second
package of proposals on rail transport to help to attain this ambitious objective.

Beyond that, looking at infrastructure, the Commission is providing both political and financial support for
constructing and bringing into service as soon as possible the two trans-Alpine rail
links already
mentioned in the guidelines for the trans-European transport network, i.e. the Lyon-Turin and Brenner
lines. With this in mind, the Commission has also proposed raising the level of funding for cross-border
rail projects in such sensitive environments as the Alps (3).

In the White Paper the Commission also proposes the establishment of a new Community framework for
charging for use of infrastructure in order to reflect more fully the external costs of the individual modes
and to make a decisive contribution to better regulation of traffic flows across the Alps. At the same time
these new rules should raise extra revenue to help fund trans-Alpine rail crossings.

The Commission also considers that greater use of transport by sea and inland waterway must be
encouraged so that they, in turn, can contribute to reducing transit traffic crossing the Alps. First, however,
any such shift to more environment-friendly modes will require improvements in quality of service at
ports, particularly on the Mediterranean Sea. The new Marco Polo programme to support intermodal
schemes must therefore contribute, amongst other things, to improving the performance of short-sea
shipping in order to turn it into a credible competitor against road transport.

This package of measures is, therefore, compatible with the sustainable development strategy which the
Commission considers one of its top priorities, as amply illustrated in the White Paper on transport policy.

(1) COM(2001) 370 final.
(2) COM(2002) 18 final.
(3) OJ C 75 E, 26.3.2002.

(2002/C 301 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1289/02

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 May 2002)

Subject: Proposed motorway between Los Realejos and Icod de los Vinos (Tenerife, Spain)

Towards the end of 2001, the regional government of the Canaries published in the BOC (Official Journal
of the Canaries) a ‘special territorial plan and information study for the Northern Tenerife Island Corridor’
(section Los Realejos-Icod de los Vinos).

The proposed stretch of motorway would be 10,8 km long and would include 2,9 km of tunnels, 2,9 km
of viaducts and four link roads occupying an area of almost 300 000 m2. This project would be an
ecological and environmental catastrophe for one of the few unspoilt areas still surviving in Tenerife. It

C 301 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

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5.12.2002

would affect the protected landscape area including Rambla de Castro, Los Campeches, Tigaiga and Ruiz,
which has been classified as an area of Community interest under the ‘Natura 2000’ European network,
and is also a recognised site of scientific interest. More than 135 800 m2 of protected forest would be
destroyed.

This project would have an overwhelmingly negative impact, and its sole benefit would be to cut the
existing driving time to Santa Cruz de Tenerife by fifteen minutes.

Can the Commission state whether this project is to receive EU funding?

to ensure compliance with Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on
What measures can the Commission adopt
environmental impact assessment and Directive 92/43/EEC (2) on the conservation of natural habitats and
of wild fauna and flora?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 June 2002)

Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and
private projects on the environment (1) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2) may indeed be applicable in this case. The
Commission will be approaching the Spanish authorities at the earliest opportunity in order to ensure that
EU law is properly applied.

In accordance with the subsidiarity principle and pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of
21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (3), both the selection and
implementation of projects are the responsibility of the Member States. The Commission has asked the
Spanish authorities for information with regard to the possible co-financing of this scheme, and will
inform the Honourable Member as soon as it has this information.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 301 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1305/02

by Miet Smet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 May 2002)

Subject: Study on paid domestic help in private households in the informal economy

On 15 November 2000 during the plenary debate on my own-initiative report on regulating domestic
help, Commissioner Diamantopoulou gave an unequivocal assurance that the European Commission
would do further statistical work and carry out studies on the problem of regularising domestic help which
has hitherto been carried out illegally.

May I also remind the Commission of the other points raised in the resolution adopted by the European
Parliament on 30 November 2000 in which it was emphasised that future regulations must take account
of the specific situation and working conditions in which domestic workers find themselves and their
isolated position and atypical relationship with their employers. Further study is also required of the
situation of immigrants carrying out domestic work and solutions should be proposed to enable them to
stay in the EU on decent conditions.

Parliament is also asking for the guidelines on employment to include policy measures to allow domestic
work of this kind to be recognised as an occupation in its own right with a view to establishing rules on
the social rights of workers, the adjustment of supply and demand in the sector, access to training and co-