WRITTEN QUESTION E-3758/02 by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Planned diversion of water from the Rhone.
Date: 2002-12-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, France, Spain, hydrology, project evaluation, water management, water resources, watercourse

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/45

In view of the adoption and entry into force since then of Directives 96/36/EC (2), 96/37/EC (3) and 96/38/
EC (4) which lay down a European standard for the fitting of safety belts to all seats of new coaches and
minibuses built after October 1999, could the Commission indicate if it has now altered its position as set
out in the reply to E-2901/94 and if so, when will it be coming forward with such a proposal and what
elements will it contain and, if it has not altered its stance, could it indicate why?

(1) OJ C 139, 5.6.1995, p. 46.
(2) OJ L 178, 17.7.1996, p. 15.
(3) OJ L 186, 25.7.1996, p. 28.
(4) OJ L 187, 26.7.1996, p. 95.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2003)

Commission Directives 96/36/EC of 17 June 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 77/
541/EEC relating to safety belts and restraint systems of motor vehicles, 96/37/EC of 17 June 1996
adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/408/EEC relating to the interior fittings of motor
vehicles (strength of seats and of their anchorages), and 96/38/EC of 17 June 1996 adapting to technical
progress Council Directive 76/115/EEC relating to anchorages for motor vehicle safety belts lay down
European standards for installation of safety belts, their anchorages and compatible seats on all motor
vehicles. The Directives came into force on 1 October 1999 for all new coaches over 3,5 tonnes and for
minibuses on 1 October 2001.

It should however be noted that, at present, Directives 96/36/EC to 38 are optional for vehicles other than
passenger cars i.e. Member States may choose to oblige new coaches and minibuses registered on their
territory to meet the standards laid down in the Directives or to maintain their national legislations. The
Commission will propose early in 2003 to make the installation of safety belts in buses and coaches
mandatory from 2004. Nonetheless, many reputable coach and minibus operators are already opting to fit
safety belts on new coaches.

However the effectiveness of safety belts is entirely conditional on their being used.
It is therefore
reasonable that passengers on coaches and minibuses that are fitted with safety belts should be required to
wear them when they are seated. This is the reason why the Commission made a proposal requiring that
(Proposal for a Directive of the
all motor vehicle users shall wear safety belts if they are provided.
Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 91/671/EEC on the approximation of the laws
of the Member States relating to compulsory use of safety belts in vehicles of less than 3,5 tonnes (1)). The
Council has reached a common position on this proposal and a second reading in the Parliament is
foreseen for March 2003.

The Commission will
investigate in 2003 any necessary supplementary actions to securing school
transport such as the mandatory use of vehicles equipped with seat belts, the signing of the vehicles as well
as specific requirements for the drivers.

(1) OJ C 96 E, 27.3.2001.

(2003/C 268 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3758/02

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Planned diversion of water from the Rhone

(23 December 2002)

After realising late in the day that the Spanish government’s ‘National Hydrological Plan’ would have
catastrophic effects on the Ebro basin and particularly on the Ebro delta, the Catalan Regional Government
has approved a plan to extend the canal
that channels water from the Rhone to Montpellier by
constructing a 516-kilometre-long conduit from Montpellier to Camprodon.

C 268 E/46

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

According to the Catalan Government, the 473 cubic hectometres of water that will be diverted in this
way each year will enable the volume of water taken from the Ebro basin to be cut from 1 050 to
577 cubic hectometres.

The plan provides for the extension of the conduit to the regions of Valencia and Murcia, meaning that it
will cover over 1 000 kilometres.

Does the Commission feel that this planned diversion of water from the Rhone basin to the Ebro basin and
beyond squares with sustainable water policy and conforms to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 (1) establishing a framework for Community action in
the field of water policy?

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2003)

The Commission considers that, in principle, water-related problems should be addressed at source. The
principles of sustainable development and of addressing environmental problems at source, are laid down
in the EC Treaty and taken up as one of the pillars of the Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of
the Council, of 23 October 2000, establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water
policy, hereafter, the Water Framework Directive.

This Water Framework Directive provides for an obligation for Member States to address their water
problems in shared river basins, but not necessarily for a large-scale water transfer between river basins.

Where specific projects respect the environmental objectives laid down, the Water Framework Directive
would not in any way prohibit such solutions. Nevertheless, they have to comply with the obligations of
the Directive. These include attainment of environmental objectives, provision of sufficient water quantity
in the water destined for abstraction/diversion to enable compliance with good ecological status, respect
for the cost-recovery principle as well as respect for other Community legislation such as the Birds (1),
Habitats (2) and Environmental Impact Assessment Directives (3) by the transfer construction.

Regarding an eventual water transfer Rhône-Barcelona, it should be noted that the information received by
the Commission shows that the project is still at a preliminary stage of discussion. The Commission has
only received as related information the preliminary agreement of the regional Government of Cataluña
(‘Acord de Govern’) on developing a project on the issue. Consequently, the Commission cannot at this
time make any specific assessment of the likely impact of the Rhône-Barcelona project.

(1) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,

OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(3) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2003/C 268 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3776/02

by Christoph Konrad (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 December 2002)

Subject: Anti-competitive practice in waste management in Germany

1.
The towns of Herne, Wuppertal, Remscheid, Bochum, the districts of Ennepe-Ruhr, Recklinghausen
and the municipal association for the Ruhr (KVR) recently founded a waste management association
named EKO-City (as the commissioning agency) and EKO-City GmbH (as the sole contractor). EKO-City