WRITTEN QUESTION E-1571/02 by Rolf Linkohr (PSE) to the Commission. Questions on the Water Framework Directive.
Date: 2002-06-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, energy policy, hydraulic energy, polluter pays principle, power plant, water management, water protection

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/183

(b) Does it believe that this complies with EU environmental legislation? If so, for what reasons? If

not, what measures will it take to prevent damage to the conservation area?

3.

In view of Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 (1), does it believe that there is any
justification for the lasting damage and destruction to the conservation area, when the Elbe will only
have a 95 % guaranteed depth of 1,60 metres, although commercial inland navigation requires a depth
of at least 2,30 metres? If so, on what grounds does it believe the ERDF funding is justified?

(1) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2002)

1a. and 2a.
The Commission is aware that measures are being taken to artificially control the depth and
current of the river Elbe in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Regarding effects on proposed Sites of Community
Interest (SCI) the Commission has received a complaint concerning a section of approximately 20 km from
Wittenberg to Coswig/Wörlitz/Vockerode. The complainant submitted information indicating that the
measures planned for this part of the river would have significant effects on the proposed Site of
Community Interest ‘Dessau-Wörlitzer-Elbauen’ (no DE 4140-304) and that some potentially significant
effects would not be investigated in the context of the impact assessment conducted pursuant Article 6(3)
of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora (1).

With respect to measures concerning the rest of the river, the Commission is not aware of information
that would indicate an infringement of Community law or in particular of Directive 92/43/EEC.

According to information received from the Saxony-Anhalt authorities, the work the Honourable Member
refers to is not being cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund.

1b. and 2b.
On the basis of the available information, it cannot be determined whether Community law,
in particular Directive 92/43/EEC, is being infringed. In order to clarify this issue with respect to the
complaint mentioned above, the Commission has requested additional
information from the German
government.

3.
Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 lays down general rules for the granting
of Community financial aid in the field of the trans-European networks. It was amended in 1999 by
(Regulation No 1655/1999 of the Parliament and of the Council of 19 July
Parliament and Council
1999 (2)). However, the projects mentioned by the Honourable Member are not cofinanced on the basis of
this Regulation.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 197, 29.7.1999.

(2002/C 301 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1571/02

by Rolf Linkohr (PSE) to the Commission

(4 June 2002)

Subject: Questions on the Water Framework Directive

Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (1) deals with the ‘recovery of costs for water
services’.

Does the Commission regard the use of hydro-electric power as a water service?

C 301 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

If so, how does it view the conflict of objectives between promoting renewable energies, increasing the
share of renewable energies and fulfilling the Kyoto obligations, on the one hand, and increasing the cost
of hydro-electric power on the other?

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 July 2002)

The Water Framework Directive (1) provides for a definition ‘water services: means all services which
provide, for households, public institutions or any economic activity a) abstraction, impoundment, storage,
treatment and distribution of surface waters or groundwater, b) waste water collection and treatment
facilities’ (Article 2(38)).

Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive provides for taking into account the principle of polluter pays
and of cost recovery by 2010: the different uses have to provide adequate contributions to the recovery of
costs of water services; at the same time Member States may,
in applying these provisions, take into
account social, ecological and economic effects of costs recovery.

The Water Framework Directive addresses all impacts on waters. The Commission does in this context not
see a contradiction between support for renewable energies (2) and the Water Framework Directive: all
involved will (cid:1) in line with the Directive (cid:1) have to contribute to water protection, including sectors
subject for support at Community level.

An ecological and economic analysis of different water uses is to be carried out by Member States by
December 2004, and will provide a sound basis. Based on this, Member States will,
in a transparent
manner and involving all interested parties, have to assess and decide the issue of costs recovery. Collated
facts as well as assessment can and will differ from case to case; consequently, it is impossible to provide a
general response on the role of hydroelectric power plants in the context of cost recovery for services.

Member States and the Commission have for the Water Framework Directive agreed on a comprehensive
implementation strategy: it will provide exchange of knowledge and information, and develop guidance
documents in cooperation of all involved parties, including European umbrella organisations and non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as the scientific community. Work within this strategy will
support implementation efforts and provide from the beginning a comparable basis. Joint work in the
frame of this implementation strategy is delivering and can be regarded as an example of Good European
Governance.

(1) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for

Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

(2) Directive 2001/77/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity

produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, OJ L 283, 27.10.2001, p. 33.

(2002/C 301 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1576/02

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 June 2002)

Subject: Domestic violence

According to a study carried out by the University of Madrid, one European women in five suffers violence
at the hands of her husband or partner at some time in her life, and women in Europe aged between 15
and 44 are more likely to be injured or die as a result of domestic violence than as a result of cancer,
malaria, traffic accidents or war put together.