WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/02 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Wind power and defence security.
Date: 2002-07-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, electromagnetic interference, public safety, research and development, telecommunications, wind energy

C 277 E/250

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Germany is granting State aid to its coal industry. In accordance with Commission Decision No 3632/93/
industry (1), the
ECSC of 28 December 1993 establishing Community rules for State aid to the coal
Commission authorised Germany to grant aid totalling € 4 156 million for 2001. € 2 755 million was
intended to cover current production losses (operating aid and activity reduction aid) and € 1 401 million
for exceptional costs (inherited liabilities).

On the basis of a coal production estimated by Germany at 28,5 million tonnes of coal equivalent for
2001, the average aid for that year was about € 117 per tonne of coal equivalent.

For the period from 1 January 2002 to 23 July 2002, the Commission has authorised aid totalling € 2 073
million, including € 1 398 million for aid to current production.

On 26 July 2001, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Regulation on State aid to the coal
industry (2) after the ECSC Treaty expires on 23 July 2002. Under the system proposed, aid will be granted
to the coal
industry for restructuring the sector in acceptable social and regional conditions, and for
maintaining coal production so as to guarantee access to reserves for security of energy supply purposes.
The aid scheme expires on 31 December 2010.

The ‘Energy’ Council held in Luxembourg on 7 June 2002 reached a political agreement on the future
system of aid to the coal industry.

The State aid rules which will be applied after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty provide for measures designed
to guarantee fair competition between Member States in the coal industry. Accordingly, the amount of aid
per tonne of coal equivalent must never be more than the difference between production cost and revenue.
Also, the amount of aid must not be allowed to lead to delivered prices for EC coal lower than those
applied for similar quality coal from third countries.

(1) OJ L 329, 30.12.1993.
(2) OJ C 304 E, 30.10.2001.

(2002/C 277 E/277)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/02

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 July 2002)

Subject: Wind power and defence security

According to a Reuters report on 26 May 2002, the UK defence ministry halted a project for a planned
wind farm in Britain because wind farms have been shown to damage air force radar activities. A similar
claim was made earlier in Norway, inter alia. At the same time the Commission is arguing forcefully in
favour of renewable energy sources, including wind power.

In the tense world situation following the events of 11 September, even greater stress is placed on the
importance of security aspects. What measures does the Commission propose to take in order to take
better account of security policy aspects when considering energy issues amongst others?

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/251

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2002)

Any large, moving structure can produce electromagnetic interference (EMI). This may occur in the case of
wind turbines by reflection of signals from the moving rotor blades so that a nearby receiver picks up both
a direct and reflected signal. EMI is more severe for metallic materials/blades, and least for wooden blades.
Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) which is used in most modern wind turbine blades is practically transparent
to electromagnetic waves and therefore intermediate in its EMI effects.

Experience has shown that careful design and siting of wind energy projects will avoid any disturbance to
telecommunication systems. Nevertheless,
the Commission, via its energy support programmes has
supported in the past research and demonstration projects on innovative materials for wind turbines and
can in principle continue to support such projects through the Sixth Framework Programme for Research,
Technological Development and Demonstration.

(2002/C 277 E/278)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1901/02

by Theodorus Bouwman (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 June 2002)

Subject: Progress in implementing Directive 2000/59/EC on port reception facilities

On 28 December 2000 Directive 2000/59/EC (1) on port reception facilities came into force. The deadline
for implementation of the directive is 28 December 2002. We have received reports from the Netherlands
that EU Member States are adopting widely differing approaches to financing the costs of implementation.
As I had expected, in my capacity as rapporteur for this subject, only a few Member States have opted for
indirect
financing. Widely differing approaches between ports can lead to waste tourism and may
perpetuate financial incentives to dumping waste at sea. It seems that less and less waste is now being
handed in at the port of Rotterdam. Only 6 % of the ships that call at the port unload waste.

Does the Commission share my view that there are wide variations in methods of implementing the
directive and in the financing systems chosen, and that there is still hardly any sign of plans for a system
of information exchange between ports?

Does the Commission agree that the great differences in financing methods and hence in costs to the
shipping industry limit the effectiveness of the directive and even lead to waste tourism and continued
dumping of waste at sea?

Is the Commission prepared, if the aforementioned differences in implementation justify it, not to wait for
several years before carrying out an assessment, but to take action immediately by encouraging the
Member States to coordinate financing systems more effectively and to launch an information exchange
system in order to ensure that the directive has the desired effect?

(1) OJ L 332, 28.12.2000, p. 81.