WRITTEN QUESTION P-3420/02 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Property development inside the SCI zone on the Monti Russu coast, Aglientu, Sardinia.
Date: 2002-11-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, Sardinia, building industry, environmental impact, infringement procedure (EU), protected area

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/69

(2003/C 222 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3420/02

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 November 2002)

Subject: Property development inside the SCI zone on the Monti Russu coast, Aglientu, Sardinia

On the Monti Russu coast in the municipality of Aglientu (Sassari), as has been pointed out on several
occasions to the competent Community (1), national, regional and local administrative and judicial
authorities by the Monti Russu Protection Committee and the environmental organisations Friends of the
Earth and the ‘Legal Action Group’, the Lido dei Coralli company has started work on dividing the land,
covering a total volume of 95 200 cubic metres, up into lots. The area in question falls within the Monti
Russu pSCI (code ITB000006), pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC as implemented by Presidential Decree
No 357/1997 (formal list in Ministerial Decree No 65 of 3 April 2000) and the planned Monti Russu
regional nature reserve (2), and is protected by general land-use restrictions (3), specific land-use plan No 1 (4)
and total conservation requirements (5). Despite the major environmental
impact that the project will
clearly have (Aglientu Municipal Council has itself provided for work covering a total volume of up to
350 000 cubic metres within the pSCI) a totally unsatisfactory environmental impact assessment has been
approved (6)
(in particular, some habitat areas (cid:1) Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals: Thero-
Brachipodietea’ *6620, ‘Mediterranean salt meadows (cid:1) Juncetalia maritimi’ 1410 and ‘Dune slerophyllous
scrubs-CistoLavanduletalia’ 16.28 (cid:1) have been wrongly designated as damaged areas; no account is taken
of the volumes concerned and the development already existing on the site or of the site clearance work
and access road building already carried out by the developer; and ridiculous compensatory arrangements
are proposed) (7) and a prior checks procedure was conducted and concluded with a decision not to carry
out an environmental impact assessment (Directive 97/11/EC, Annex II, point 12, point c, supplementing
and amending Directive 85/337/EEC) (8). The property development is located right in the middle of the
site and would wreck its natural harmony. Furthermore, the European Union is financing the LIFE Natura
1999 (cid:1) 06189 ‘Juniperus Dunes’ project conducted by the Algientu Municipal Council, which includes the
above development plans (9).

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

On the basis of what criteria and procedures was a LIFE Natura project of this kind approved and
financed?

Does the Commission intend to take appropriate measures on the basis of
environmental impact assessment and the prior checks procedure?

the findings of

the

(1) The author has already submitted written questions 3340/00 and 0921/01 on this project.
(2) Sardinian Regional Law No 31/1999 (Annex A).
(3) Legislative Decree No 490/1999, Arts 139 and 140 (as provided for in the Ministerial Decree of 29 October 1964)

and 146, paragraph 1, points a, g.

(4) Decree No 266 of 6 August 1993 of the President of the Sardinian Autonomous Regional Executive.
(5) Regional Law No 23/1993, Article 2, paragraph 1, point a.
(6) Decision No 1564/V of 11 July 2001 of

the Director-General of

the Regional Environmental Protection

Department.

(7) Such as, for example, the transplanting of 40 ‘significant’

juniper bushes in the village gardens, as against the
destruction of 32 % of the ‘Matorral a Juniperis spp 5210’ habitat and the total destruction of other habitats in the
area in question.

(8) Decision No 2372/VIII of 7 December 2001 of the Director of the SIVEA (environmental impact) Service in the

Regional Environmental Protection Department.

(9) See the revised LIFE project document on the main problems, threats to the habitat and the species affected by the

work at the sites at which the project is being conducted.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2003)

The Commission is aware of the issue mentioned by the Honourable Member. The Commission has
opened an official complaint on this case.

C 222 E/70

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

The LIFE project beneficiary (Municipality of Aglientu) indicated in the application (Form 99/10) that,
within the threshold set in the urban plan, they intended to limit to a maximum of 350 000 square metre
the total building volume within the proposed Site of Community Importance. They also explicitly
mentioned that this would be done in full respect of the applicable regional, national and Community law
and, in particular, with reference to article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

Community funded projects have to comply with Community law. The project decision and conditions
reinforce this obligation and the commitment by the beneficiary to enforce it.

The case, referred to in the complaint, is under assessment. The Commission will take appropriate steps,
including infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to ensure the observance of
Community law.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2003/C 222 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3426/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: Take-up of appropriations under the Daphne Programme by the Municipality of Fiumicino

In September 2002 the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry of Finance published a statement
showing expenditure of funds provided by the EU.

The outcome of the survey gave particular cause for concern regarding the slowness and inefficiency of
local authorities in selecting projects, with funds earmarked for the year 2000 amounting to only 2 % of
total CSF appropriations.

The Commission also has repeatedly expressed serious concern regarding the inadequate take-up of
European funds by local authorities.

Given that it is particularly important for certain local authorities, for example, the Municipality of
Fiumicino,
the abuse of women and children, can the
Commission provide the following information:

to utilise Community funding to combat

1. Has the Municipality of Fiumicino submitted projects under the Daphne Programme?

2. Was the Municipality of Fiumicino was awarded funding for these projects?

3. Were the funds in question utilised?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2003)

The Daphne Programme has not received any proposals from the Municipality of Fiumicino since 1997.

(2003/C 222 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3427/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: Take-up of appropriations under the Daphne Programme by the Municipality of Frosinone

In September 2002 the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry of Finance published a statement
showing expenditure of funds provided by the EU.