WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/02 by Marie Isler Béguin (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. TINA, ISPA and environmental directives in the candidate countries.
Date: 2002-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU financing, accession to the European Union, environmental impact, environmental protection, transport infrastructure, transport network

C 28 E/110

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

(2003/C 28 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1466/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 May 2002)

Subject: Jim Currie

Further to the answer given by Mr Kinnock on 19 April 2002 to Written Question P-0825/02 (1), will the
Commission state the outcome of its examination as to whether the former Director-General of DG
Environment will be in a position to comply with the relevant provisions of the Staff Regulations in
joining the Board of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd?

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 221.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2002)

As announced in May 2001 the Commission has reviewed the case of Mr James Currie, formally Director
General of DG Environment, and concluded that he may take up a post as a non-executive director of
BNFL, for which he was nominated by the UK Government. The relevant Commission authorities took
account of the fact that more than a year has elapsed since Mr Currie had any responsibilities for nuclear
safety matters, and the fact that Mr Currie has stated in writing that he was not in possession of any
information in written, electronic or any other form which could be deemed to be confidential or
politically sensitive in the area of radioprotection.

Mr Currie made a written commitment that, as non-executive board member, he will avoid involvement in
any executive decision making or lobbying. He has also given 3 undertakings which the Commission
required as conditions to be placed upon his appointment. Consequently, Mr Currie will not use or
transmit any confidential or politically sensitive information relating to nuclear safety or radioprotection to
which he would have had access while he was Director-General of Directorate General Environment; will
abstain from being in any way involved in matters related to the infringement procedure opened by the
Commission with respect to British Nuclear Fuels activities; will not start his activity with BNFL before
1 November 2002.

(2003/C 28 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/02

by Marie Isler Béguin (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2002)

Subject: TINA, ISPA and environmental directives in the candidate countries

In 1996 the Commission decided on a process of assessing transport infrastructure needs (TINA), approved
the following year, the aim of which was to coordinate, in the light of ongoing environmental concern,
transport network integration in an enlarged Union in both conceptual and development terms.

The Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-accession (ISPA), proposed as part of Agenda 2000, is a
financial instrument designed to facilitate incorporation of the Community acquis in the environment and
transport fields which focuses on the principle of rectifying environmental damage at source.

Concerns have been raised as to the potential impact, when EU enlargement takes place, of the transport
infrastructure network (TINA) on areas of central and eastern Europe protected by the birds and habitats
directives.

6.2.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/111

What is the Commission’s assessment of the environmental impact of using funds from the European
Investment Bank (EIB) and ISPA allocated for such large-scale regional development projects in central and
eastern Europe? Can the Commission give assurances that
those funds are not financing candidate
countries’ projects which are at odds with present EC environmental directives? Can it also restate the
action taken in the event of failure to comply with those directives, and to make good the damage caused,
in the environment field?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2002)

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to its answer to written question E-1032/02
by Mrs Lynne (1) concerning Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild
birds (2) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of
wild fauna and flora (3) and their impact on pre-accession financing.

In cases where the Instrument for Structural Policy for Pre-Accession (ISPA) funding is involved for large
infrastructure developments, similar standards to those set by Community environmental legislation need
to be applied before any co-financing can be granted to the candidate countries. This involves, inter alia,
the application of Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (4). In addition, the
applicant country will also have to investigate whether environmentally sensitive areas are affected which
might fall in future under the protection of the two Directives previously mentioned.

As far as the assessment of the environmental impact of projects co-financed by the European Investment
Bank (EIB) is concerned, similar standards as those set by the Community environmental legislation have to
be applied and the Commission follows the environmental aspects before the loans are approved by the
EIB. This also applies to the Directives mentioned above.

(1) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 75.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(4) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2003/C 28 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1492/02

by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 May 2002)

Subject: Administrative capacity of competition authority in Estonia

The Commission has indicated on a number of occasions that Estonia’s administrative capacity is not
totally adequate.

Does the Commission know how many civil servants are dealing with matters concerning competition at
the competition authorities in Luxembourg and in Estonia?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(17 June 2002)

In the latest Regular Report on Estonia’s Progress Towards Accession, published on 13 November 2001 (1),
the Commission stated that:

The Competition Board is a fully independent authority and has sufficient resources and expertise in
place.