WRITTEN QUESTION P-2157/02 by María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. ERDF funding for the destruction of three medieval water mills.
Date: 2002-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Regional Development Fund, Spain, application of EU law, complaint to the Commission, cultural heritage, impact study, use of aid

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/191

A fragrance ingredient is defined by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) as any basic substance
used in the manufacture of fragrance materials for its odorous, odour-enhancing or blending properties.
Fragrance ingredients may be obtained by chemical synthesis from synthetic, fossil or natural raw materials
or by physical operations from natural sources.

Sorbitan sesquioleate is used as an emulsifier in the standard diagnostic ‘fragrance mix’. It is known to be a
very rare allergen. Individuals shown to react to the fragrance mix will be tested to the individual eight
fragrance components of the mix and also to the sorbitan sesquioleate. The individual tests do not require
the emulsifier. There are papers showing that, sesquioleate is not an important factor. It was fully debated
at least 10 years ago.

Therefore, the assumption that ‘the other 12 reactions may have been caused by the sorbitan sesquioleate
emulsifier rather than the fragrance mix’ is not relevant to the problem of fragrance allergy.

(2003/C 28 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2157/02

by María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 July 2002)

Subject: ERDF funding for the destruction of three medieval water mills

The work involved in executing the project ‘measures affecting various stretches of the river Duero’, partly
funded by the ERDF, has led to the unjustified and unsupervised demolition of the water mills of Cabañales
(Zamora). These buildings feature in the above-mentioned project, according to which they were supposed
to be restored and converted to house nature study centres.

The public prosecutor at the Zamora Provincial Court has initiated proceedings and Zamora town council
has ordered that the work be suspended.

Irrespective of the measures being carried out in the Member State concerned, and taking into account the
harm done to the Commission’s image by a project receiving European funding being executed in a
manner contrary to that intended, does the Commission intend to impose any kind of sanction on those
responsible for this aggression against the cultural heritage, once it has been established who they are?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2002)

According to information received from the Spanish authorities, the project ‘Actuaciones en varios tramos
del río Duero, Zamora’ is included for co-financing at 70 % by the European Regional Development Fund
under measure 6 (Protection and regeneration of the natural environment) of the third priority of the
Integrated operational programme Castilla y León for the 2000-2006 programming period.

The Spanish environmental authorities competent in the area have certified that the works do not affect
any site classified as a Natura 2000 protected area and that this project is not required to follow an
Environmental Impact Assessment procedure.

The project has been the subject of a complaint for possible incorrect application of Community legislation
relative to the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. Where
the Commission identifies any breach of Community legislation regarding the development of the project,
it will take the appropriate measures. These include a possible suspension of financial support for the
project as long as all the legal requirements are not met.