WRITTEN QUESTION E-1307/02 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Fuel storage tank installations at Vasova estuary.
Date: 2002-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental law, environmental protection, location of industry, marine pollution, protected area, storage of hydrocarbons

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/119

(2002/C 301 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1307/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Fuel storage tank installations at Vasova estuary

(7 May 2002)

48 tanks for the storage and transit of petroleum products are to be installed at the Vasova estuary in the
prefecture of Kavala. The addition of the new storage tanks to the existing 16 will create a fresh source of
pollution for the population and the ecosystem, contaminating the Kavala region with permanent and
periodic emissions of aromatic hydrocarbons from the tanks and the unloading of oil-tankers, together
with the inevitable discharges of petroleum products into soil and sea. Moreover, the accumulation of fuel
storage facilities in a confined area, the underwater piping and the moorings with the resultant congestion
caused by oil-tankers in the area will increase the probability of an accident. Furthermore, owing to its
size, the proposed gas-fired thermoelectric plant with a generating capacity of 440 MW will cause
significant thermal pollution to air and sea.

In view of the fact that:

(cid:1) the proposed site for the extension of the installations (the Vasova estuary) borders on a wetland

protected under the Ramsar Convention and a national park,

(cid:1) the existing fuel storage facilities are often close to refuse tips which are susceptible to fire,

(cid:1) the EU Seveso II Directive, which is a national law (KYA 5697/509 Article 12), requires the competent
authorities to ensure that their regional planning takes account of the objectives of preventing major
accidents and limiting their consequences when drawing up plans for land use,

(cid:1) the project is in breach of the Barcelona Convention, to which Greece is a contracting party, and in
particular the Protocol concerning protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-
based sources,

(cid:1) according to a study carried out by the Technical Chamber of Eastern Macedonia, minor and major

accidents are certain, inevitable and irreversible,

(cid:1) according to the Peramo Institute of Fisheries, the Gulf of Kavala is environmentally ‘overloaded’,

(cid:1) the installation of the tanks in this specific area will affect tourism and a number of jobs directly

dependent on tourism and the sea,

in projects

will the Commission say whether an environmental impact assessment has been drawn up for the area,
whether a risk assessment has been made in regard to the movement of oil-tankers, and to what extent the
investment
facility for
500 million Nm3 of natural gas, a combined heat and power plant with a generating capacity of least
75 MW, a ship repair yard, a cement factory directly on the Vasova estuary etc.) is consistent with
Community environment law? Can the Commission intercede with the Greek authorities within its sphere
of responsibilities to ensure that there is rational management of the protected area?

in the prefecture of Kavala (underwater geological

storage

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2002)

The Vasova lagoon is part of the ‘Nestos Delta and Keramoti lagoons’ proposed by Greece under code
GR 1150010 as a site of Community importance under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on
the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

If the site is to be part of the European Natura 2000 ecological network, the Greek authorities must ensure
that activities conducted there do not entail its deterioration, in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats
Directive.

C 301 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

from Directive 92/43/EEC,

the issues raised by the Honourable Member might also involve
Apart
infringement of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the impact of certain
public and private projects on the environment (2), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of
3 March 1997 (3), and of Council Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-
accident hazards involving dangerous substances (4).

The European Commission will make enquiries to ascertain whether the reported plans are incompatible
with the above Community provisions and,
it will take appropriate measures to ensure
if necessary,
compliance with Community environmental law.

The Commission would at the same time ask the Honourable Member to forward all the information at his
disposal in order to facilitate its investigation.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(4) OJ L 10, 14.1.1997.

(2002/C 301 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1309/02

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

(7 May 2002)

Subject: Closure of the Fontaneda biscuit factory in Aguilar de Campoo (Palencia, Spain)

The multinational United Biscuits has decided to close the Fontaneda biscuit factory in Palencia arbitrarily
and without previously informing the works council of its intentions or negotiating the decision to dismiss
the employees. Its argument is that the factory has ceased to be viable and is unprofitable. However,
United Biscuits has decided that the production of Fontaneda biscuits is to be absorbed by its factories in
Navarre and the Basque Country, where the financial incentives would bring the company larger profits.
The closure is a veritable disaster for the workers and the town, which has a population of 7 000, and will
bring the whole district to financial ruin. Neighbouring towns have already suffered from the crisis in
mining, agriculture and industry and the population is decreasing and ageing inexorably. At least another
five businesses with more than 1 500 employees closed in the Autonomous Region of Castille and Leon in
2001 and the rate of unemployment is below the national average.

The closure of the factory is due to a company relocating within the EU in search of financial incentives
which in this case are having an adverse effect on employment.

Can the Commission say whether it is compatible with Community legislation that a multinational should
purchase the María Fontaneda biscuit business and then close the factory and take production elsewhere?

Does the Commission consider that a viable solution might be for the workers to retain the brand name,
as the Castille and Leon regional executive suggested, and turn the factory into a co-operative, which could
benefit from regional, national and European aid?

What steps will the Commission take to ensure compliance with Community legislation, in particular
Directive 98/59/EC (1) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective
redundancies and Directive 94/45/EC (2) on a procedure
in Community-scale undertakings and
Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees?

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998, p. 16.
(2) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994, p. 64.