WRITTEN QUESTION E-2581/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The Morrazo superhighway in Galicia.
Date: 2002-09-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, Structural Funds, application of EU law, countryside conservation, environmental impact, environmental law, expressway, public works

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/235

The Commission has also obtained a mandate from the Council to negotiate on behalf of the Community
the ongoing review of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International
Transport. The adoption of
the welfare rules
throughout Europe.

this Convention will reinforce the harmonisation of

(1) COM(2000) 809 final.

(2002/C 309 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2540/02

by John Hume (PSE) to the Commission

(5 September 2002)

Subject: BNFL convoy from Japan to Sellafield

Is this Commission satisfied with the safety arrangements in place for the shipping of MOX fuel pellets
from Japan to Sellafield through European waters scheduled for September 2002? Given that the reason
for the return of the MOX pellets is the fact that false quality assurances had been given, what action will
the Commission take to assure EU citizens,
(especially those living around the Irish Sea) that such
shipments will never take place in future?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-1904/02 by Mrs Doyle (1).

(1) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002, p. 252.

(2002/C 309 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2581/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: The Morrazo superhighway in Galicia

(16 September 2002)

The Galician government has planned a superhighway along the Morrazo peninsula. The route follows the
mountainside for a distance of 21,5 km. The inhabitants of Morrazo accept the need for the road, but
consider that with the envisaged route and the technical solutions adopted, the road will cause serious
social and economic problems and damage to the environment and landscape, which can and must be
avoided. The peninsula is densely populated along a coastline with fishing and commercial ports and
creeks and beaches which are among the best in Galicia, and a population scattered over a spectacular and
beautiful mountain landscape.

The Galician government published the information study on the project
in August 2000. The
environmental impact assessment on the road was published by the government in July 2001, and the
route and declaration of public interest of the project were approved in September that year. The
preliminary acts for the occupation of the land to be expropriated are in the process of being signed. In
opposition to the project submitted by the Galician government in the public information procedure, a
large number of inhabitants of Morrazo (cid:1) 4 000 people belonging to neighbourhood associations and
groups sharing common land and water supply (cid:1) have filed objections against parts of the route and the
technical solutions which appeared in the information study published by the government in August 2000.
In actual fact, many of the objections submitted by the inhabitants were incorporated by the government
in its environmental assessment study of July 2000, but were not considered in the government project
itself. The objections submitted by the inhabitants were ignored and the government even ignored the
statements made by the Morrazo municipal authorities.

C 309 E/236

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

In view of all this, can the Commission say whether the superhighway is being financed by the structural
funds? Does it consider that the project submitted by the government is sufficient to meet the social and
economic needs and protect the environment and landscape of the Morrazo peninsula? Is the Commission
aware of the circumstances of the study and the implementation of the project? Does the environmental
impact study submitted by the government meet the requirements of EU directives? Has the Commission
analysed whether the final version of the project meets its own requirements concerning environmental
impact assessment? Is that the Commission willing to consider the statements submitted by the inhabitants
of Morrazo? Does the Commission know that the Galician government is refusing the dialogue requested
by the inhabitants of Morrazo who submitted objections to the superhighway project? Is it willing to
promote this dialogue?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2002)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2002/C 309 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2725/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 September 2002)

Subject: The A-9 Motorway between Spain and Portugal and infringement of Community environmental

legislation

The building work on the A-9 motorway between the Rebullón (Tui, Spain)
interchange and the
Portuguese frontier is having an enormous environmental impact on the area, causing a whole range of
damage, particularly to the existing watercourses. When designing the motorway section which affects the
area’s inhabitants, the environmental damage caused was not assessed: a particular glaring absence from
the studies made were the underground watercourses, which are required for human consumption and the
land. The resulting defective drainage in conjunction with
irrigation of
meteorological conditions, has
the area. The public administrations
responsible for the construction work (Ministry of Development, the Xunta de Galicia and the local
authorities) are dodging the problem and ignoring the numerous and frequent organised protests by local
people. Although there have even been two deaths: a lorry driver was killed by the fall of a girder, and a
local person died during a protest. Both these incidents are sub judice.

irreversible consequences

surrounding agricultural

for

What Community funding is going into the completion of
the roadworks in question? Could the
Commission investigate whether these roadworks involve infringement of environmental legislation on the
dumping of waste on the part of the Spanish Government?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2002)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.