WRITTEN QUESTION E-1485/02 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. The Isla de Tabarca (Alicante) bolding project inquiry.
Date: 2002-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, EU control, island, protected area, protection of animal life, protection of plant life, tourism, urbanisation

C 277 E/214

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

The present infringement procedure is based on the Europe Agreement between Estonia and the Union of
1997. Under that agreement the parties took the commitment of ensuring shipowners established in their
territories freedom to provide maritime services. The Europe Agreement is part of the acquis commun-
autaire and is therefore binding on all Member States.

The infringement procedure regards the behaviour of a Member State and not the relations between
individuals or organisations.

The monitoring of application of Community law is a mission attributed to the Commission by the
Treaties (Article 211 of the EC Treaty). At present, the Commission is analysing the reply from the Finnish
authorities.

(2002/C 277 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1485/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: The Isla de Tabarca (Alicante) bolding project inquiry

(29 May 2002)

In this reply to Question E-2800/01 (1), the Commission acknowledged the enormous importance of the
‘Isla de Tabarca’ SCI in environmental terms and the posidonia beds it shelters. In the wake of my
criticisms of tourism-related building projects in the protected area, the Commission announced that it was
opening an inquiry to find out whether the Spanish authorities were protecting the SCI properly, and
whether Directive 92/43/EEC (2) (habitats) was being infringed.

Can the Commission tell me what stage this inquiry has reached, and tell me the contents of any reply
received from the Spanish authorities?

What action is the Commission to protect the ‘Isla de Tabarca’ SCI?

(1) OJ C 115 E, 16.5.2002, p. 161.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2002)

The Spanish authorities replied to the Commission’s request for information, indicating that the Island of
Tabarca has been protected since 1984 by a ‘special plan’ which classifies the walled town as urban land
and the isthmus as a service area, while completely protecting the countryside and prohibiting all types of
building. At present, the municipality of Alicante is trying to alter the plan, but the Coastal Department of
the Ministry of the Environment has not approved the alterations.

The Island of Tabarca was classified as a Site of Community Importance (SIC) by the Spanish authorities in
1997, owing to the presence of large posidonia beds, a priority habitat.

The Spanish authorities point out that the projects referred to in the written question involve the
in
construction of two buildings for which authorisation was granted in 1996 and 1998 respectively,
accordance with the ‘special plan’ in force. They also state that all necessary measures have been adopted
to ensure compliance with the provisions of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of wild fauna and flora. They have indeed adopted management plans which meet the
ecological requirements of natural habitats of Community importance, and preventive and corrective
measures to prevent the deterioration of such habitats.

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/215

In conclusion, this is a project of limited scope which is not likely to have a significant impact on the site,
given that it was classified because of the richness of its marine ecosystems. Moreover, the management
plans and preventive and corrective measures adopted by the Spanish authorities should help to prevent
the deterioration of the natural habitats present on the site. For these reasons, having examined the
Spanish authorities’ reply, the Commission concluded that Community environmental law was not being
infringed in this particular case.

(2002/C 277 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1488/02

by Riitta Myller (PSE) to the Commission

(29 May 2002)

Subject: Emissions trading

Some electricity trade experts have pointed out that the proposed emissions trading model would lead to a
substantial rise in consumer prices on the open electricity market. The Commission’s ‘Evaluation of
Alternative Initial Allocation Mechanisms in a European Union Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowance
Trading Scheme, NERA 2002’ also states that the price of emission allowances will be passed on to prices
on the open electricity market (what is termed an opportunity cost).

Has the Commission calculated the effects of emissions trading on consumer prices on the open electricity
market? Of what order of magnitude are the costs arising to electricity consumers? In what relationship do
the resulting costs stand to the cost advantages brought about by the emissions trading system, as set out
earlier by the Commission?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 July 2002)

The extent to which electricity prices may rise depends on the instruments chosen to address climate
change. It is the objective of the Commission that the Kyoto targets are implemented in a cost-effective
manner so as to ensure that costs for European consumers as a result of the Kyoto Protocol are minimised.

Emission trading is a flexible instrument that will ensure that emissions are reduced cost-effectively for all
participants.

Estimating the effects of implementing the Kyoto agreement on electricity prices in the period 2008 to
2012 is subject to a lot of uncertainty, as the price development in the absence of further climate policies
is also uncertain and will depend on progress in other Community policies like the liberalisation of
electricity and gas markets. However, increases in electricity prices have to be seen in the perspective of
the substantial lowering of electricity prices that many consumers have experienced as a result of the
partial electricity market liberalisation so far.

The Commission does not consider useful the comparison of expected electricity price increases with the
cost savings from using emission trading at Community level. Potential electricity price increases and the
cost savings achievable from Community-wide emission trading are highly sensitive to the assumption of
what alternative policies would have been chosen to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity
generation sector in the absence of emission trading.

In the material accompanying the proposal for a Directive establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas
emission allowance trading the Commission has presented some estimates of likely cost savings from
emission trading for the electricity and heat generation sector of more than € 1 billion per annum.