WRITTEN QUESTION E-2500/02 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Threats to the historical, cultural, social and environmental heritage in Seville (Spain).
Date: 2002-09-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, cultural heritage, environmental impact, environmental protection, heritage protection, impact study, parking area, urban area

C 92 E/176

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2002)

In addition to the answer given by the Commission to written question E-1094/02 from the Honourable
Member, the Commission would like to stress the following points:

(cid:1) the UAFSE report that was mentioned in the article in the edition of the ‘El País’ newspaper of 28 June
2002 concerns only the IMEFE’s own measures (‘Medios Propios’). Indeed, the final version of this
UAFSE assessment report, which was finalised on 29 May 2002, sets out, following the allegations
made by the IMEFE, a reduction in the amounts initially calculated in the provisional version of this
report;

(cid:1) an additional report on the activity of the IMEFE concerning the ‘Assistencias técnicas’ (technical

assistance) external courses will have to be submitted to the Commission.

In the light of the above, the following statements should be made:

(cid:1) the two UAFSE reports referred to in the press are in fact the provisional and final versions of the

same report;

(cid:1) the amounts mentioned in the UAFSE report cannot be compared with those included in the IGAE

report, which covered the entire activity of the IMEFE.

In conclusion, the Commission can confirm that it is monitoring this matter with all necessary care.

(2003/C 92 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2500/02

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 September 2002)

Subject: Threats to the historical, cultural, social and environmental heritage in Seville (Spain)

Neighbourhood associations and cultural, professional, environmental and trade union organisations etc. in
Seville have joined forces to demand a more habitable city, in a campaign regarding transport in the
historic centre of the city, based on European recommendations and guidelines concerning the urban
environment, reducing CO2 emissions and noise and air pollution. Their ultimate aim is to safeguard the
historical, cultural, social and environmental heritage.

The campaigners have expressed their concern at the building of three carparks in a unique area of the city
full of historic buildings, despite views expressed by experts, who consider that the use of private vehicles
should be restricted and pedestrian areas be extended in this district and that the indiscriminate felling of
trees be avoided, as is planned for example in the Alameda de Hércules park, which is a symbol of the city.

What steps can the Commission take to ensure the implementation of Community law in this particular
case, in particular Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985, on the assessment of the effects of certain public and
private projects on the environment, as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (1),
requires that certain listed types of project are subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before
consent can be given. The projects to which the Directive applies are divided into two Annexes. Projects
listed in Annex I to the Directive require environmental impact assessment (EIA) in all cases. Projects listed
in Annex II to the Directive require EIA if they are likely to have significant effects on the environment.

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/177

Car parks are listed in Annex II to the Directive (10(b) (cid:1) ‘Urban development projects, including the
construction of shopping centres and car parks’) and require EIA in accordance with the Directive if the
project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment. The Directive does not specify what is a
‘significant’ effect and the competent authority must decide the issue on a case by case basis or by use of
thresholds. According to Article 4(4) of the Directive, this determination on whether an Annex II project
requires EIA must be made available to the public. Where EIA is required, the developer must prepare a
statement of the project’s likely effects on the environment. That statement is made available to the
environmental authorities and the public for comment. The statement and the comments received on it
must be taken into account in reaching the decision on whether or not the project should go ahead.
Information on the final decision must be also made available to the public.

If the Honourable Member considers that the requirements of the Directive have not been followed in this
case, a complaint can be made to the Commission, accompanied by the relevant evidence.

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2003/C 92 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2510/02

by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Council

(3 September 2002)

Subject: Election campaign in an important Member State

On 22 September 2002, elections will be held in the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the most
important Member States of the European Union.

In what areas and in what way is the current vigorous election campaign affecting the work of the
Council?

What outstanding negotiations and decisions is the campaign delaying and/or hampering?

Are not in particular the negotiations for the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union being
affected, especially the agricultural sector?

Reply

(19 December 2002)

As the Honourable Member’s question suggests, the work of the Council,
like that of any political
institution, does not take place in a vacuum and can indeed be affected by political events taking place in a
Member State. However, it does not seem possible to establish any precise causal link between an electoral
campaign in progress in one State and the outcome of a specific discussion in the Council.

In any event, as regards the example mentioned by the Honourable Member, it should be recalled that the
European Council undertook to conclude the enlargement negotiations by the time of the European
Council in Copenhagen, in order to make it possible for the Accession Treaty to be signed in spring 2003.

(2003/C 92 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2515/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: Illegal fishing for tuna with drift nets

(10 September 2002)

Fishing for tuna with drift nets, or ‘nets of death’, has been banned in the EU since 1 January 2002, largely
thanks to the initiatives launched by the European Parliament.