WRITTEN QUESTION E-2347/02 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Vinyl 2010 — Voluntary Commitment by the European PVC industry.
Date: 2002-07-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: chemical industry, environmental protection, industrial policy, plastics, public health

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/225

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2002)

The Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) uses non-
differentiated appropriations; commitment appropriations are therefore identical to payment appropri-
ations. During the period referred to by the Honourable Member, three rural development programmes
were in operation in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia: a regional rural development programme
operating exclusively there and two so-called horizontal programmes covering several Autonomous
Communities: one to improve the structures of agricultural production and the other for accompanying
measures.

Spain has not broken down the amounts for the horizontal programme of accompanying measures by
region so the Commission can provide only an overall figure of EUR 910,47 million for 2000-2002.

In the other two cases, the planned contributions from the Guarantee Section of the EAGGF to these
programmes in 2000, 2001 and 2002 are as follows:

(cid:1) horizontal programme to improve the structures of agricultural production: EUR 165,15 million of

which EUR 59,94 million will go to Catalonia;

(cid:1) regional rural development programme: EUR 82,03 million.

As regards expenditure declared by 30 June 2002, the following payments have been made by the Catalan
paying agency (DARP) for these three programmes (budgetary heading B1-40):

(cid:1) 2000 (16 October 1999 (cid:1) 15 October 2000): EUR 28 771 million;

(cid:1) 2001 (16 October 2000 (cid:1) 15 October 2001): EUR 56 998 million;

(cid:1) 2002 (16 October 2001 (cid:1) 30 June 2002): EUR 20 002 million;

(cid:1) Total to 30 June 2002: EUR 105 771 million.

(2003/C 28 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2347/02

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 July 2002)

Subject: Vinyl 2010 (cid:1) Voluntary Commitment by the European PVC industry

The PVC industry has made a number of voluntary commitments to improve the safety for humans and
the environment of the production and use of PVC. These commitments have been set out formally in
Vinyl 2010, which develops the earlier Voluntary Commitment. A second progress report (2002) on
progress within the framework of the Commitment has just been published.

According to the PVC steering group, the European Commission has still not answered the question how,
in practice, the PVC industry can build upon the initiatives already taken. Can the Commission indicate
what it thinks of the Voluntary Commitment by the PVC industry and say how this commitment can be
incorporated into PVC policy?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2002)

The Commission has studied the voluntary commitment of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry (Vinyl
2010) with great interest and believes that it is a worthwhile initiative. Improvements regarding some
elements of the voluntary commitment could nevertheless still be envisaged, and the Commission has met
with representatives of Vinyl 2010 to respond informally to the commitment.

C 28 E/226

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

One of the fundamental demands of the Parliament in the framework of the discussion on the PVC Green
Paper has been that the Commission should present a proposal for a framework on environmental
agreements.

On 17 July 2002 the Commission adopted a Communication on Environmental Agreements at
Community Level (1).

In this Communication, the Commission states that an early candidate for an environmental agreement
could be the PVC strategy. The Commission will propose a Communication on this PVC strategy in the
near future.

(1) COM(2002) 412 final.

(2003/C 28 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2349/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Protection of the Skhinia wetlands

(30 July 2002)

The Commission indicated that a definite answer would not be given to my questions (P-2323/00 (1) and
E-0332/01 (2)) concerning the inclusion of Skhinia (Attica) in Natura 2000 and the protection of the
wetlands until after it had investigated the relevant file, and adopted a position ‘taking into account the
conservation value of the site, and the elements supplied by the Greek authorities …’.

Since there is an official complaint pending with the Commission and the Greek State Council has rejected
an appeal by environmental organisations because it was not submitted in time, can the Commission say
whether, for its part, it has investigated this case and whether there are any new developments?

(1) OJ C 72 E, 6.3.2001, p. 193.
(2) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 82.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

In dealing with the complaint on the construction of the Olympic rowing and canoeing centre at Schinias-
Marathon in Greece, the Commission’s aim was a) to afford to the site an adequate protection status
through its inclusion in the Natura 2000 ecological network established under Directive 92/43/EEC (1), and
b) to ensure that the installation of the Olympic rowing and canoeing facilities and the future management
of the area will be done in a manner which will protect and restore the site’s wildlife value.

the
Since the Commission’s reply to the previous related questions (P-2323/00 and E-0332/01) of
Honourable Member, the Greek authorities have submitted additional relevant documentation and further
contacts with them were undertaken. This has enabled them to improve the design of the project so that
habitat loss is minimised and the ecological quality of the area is increased through the implementation of
the restoration project. Furthermore, progress has been made towards the establishment of the National
Park by the publication of the Joint Ministerial Decision for the Administration and the Management Plan
of the National Park. Certain elements regarding the implementation of the restoration programme for the
wetland and the time framework for all the proposed works have been clarified further. Regarding the
establishment and operation of the Management Body of the National Park, it has to be noted that national
legislation (Presidential Decree) is pending.

In addition, in August 2002, the Greek authorities have proposed the area of Schinias-Marathon as a Site
of Community Interest, submitting to the Commission the Standard Data Forms for the site, a digital map
and a support file which were required for the proposal of the site to the Natura 2000 network. These
documents are currently under examination by the Commission.