WRITTEN QUESTION P-2848/02 by María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission. State of play with regard to infringement procedure 2000/4879.
Date: 2002-10-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Madrid, Spain, environmental risk prevention, fire, infringement procedure (EU), national implementing measure

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/23

(2003/C 222 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2848/02

by María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: State of play with regard to infringement procedure 2000/4879

(4 October 2002)

The letter of
approving the fire prevention regulations for the Community of Madrid.

formal notice (Article 226) relates to Decree 341/1999 of the Community of Madrid

Will the Commission say what the current state of play is with regard to the aforementioned procedure?

Will it say whether it has received a reply of any kind from the Community of Madrid, as requested?

What specific measures does it intend to take to resolve this case in order to ensure compliance with
Community legislation?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2002)

The Commission is able to inform the Honourable Member that, in response to the letter of formal notice
addressed to them under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, the Spanish authorities, in accordance with the
notification procedure introduced by Directive 98/34/EC (1), gave notice on 26 July 2002 of a new draft
providing for the repeal of Decree 341/1999 approving the fire prevention regulations for the Community
of Madrid.

The three-month standstill period laid down by Directive 98/34/EC ends on 28 October 2002. The
purpose of this standstill period is to give other Member States and the Commission the opportunity to
examine whether the draft in question is compatible with Community law; interested parties can submit
their positions on the document during this period. If the Commission or some Member States feel that
the text contains aspects which may create obstacles to the free movement of goods and are incompatible
with the rules of the EC Treaty or with Directive 89/106/EEC (2), they are entitled to deliver a detailed
opinion asking Spain to adapt the provisions in question to Community law. Spain is obliged to respond
to this detailed opinion.

The Commission will make sure that the notification procedure runs smoothly and that the Spanish
authorities adopt the text, amended if needs be, in order to ensure compliance with Community law.

(1) Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for

the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (cid:1) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.

(2) Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative

provisions of the Member States relating to construction products (cid:1) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.

(2003/C 222 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2850/02

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Proposed Ebro water transfer in Catalonia, Spain

(4 October 2002)

The Catalonian Regional Government has recently submitted to public consultation a project to connect
the Tarragona and Barcelona water supply networks. This project represents in fact the first stage of the
northern stretch of the proposed Ebro water transfer.

The estimated cost of the project is EUR 125 million and the Spanish Ministers for the Environment and
Regional Development agreed over the summer to apply for EU funding for 85 % of the total project costs.

There is great controversy about this project, and civil society and the Regional Government of Aragon are
opposed because the project represents an enormous abstraction which will threaten the Ebro Delta, which
is a Natura 2000 site, SPA, Ramsar Site, Natural Park, etc.