WRITTEN QUESTION E-0209/03 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission. Environmental impact of the enlargement of Eivissa airport.
Date: 2003-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Balearic Islands, airport, application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental law, nature reserve, public works

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/163

There was considerable media coverage of the Greenpeace demonstration. Reporters from El País, El
Mundo, Tele-5, Antena 3, RTVE, Canal Sur and Associated Press were, in the course of their professional
duties, violently harassed by the Gibraltarian police and arrested (in waters which are, to say the very least,
the object of international
legal dispute), and the Tele 5 reporter was punched by the Gilbraltarian
policeman, as highlighted on the front page of El Mundo (21.1.2003).

Quite apart from the fact that the Member State of which Gibraltar is a dependency is unwilling to
persuade Gibraltar that
is rather
surprising that one of the principles or values which distinguishes us as Europeans, namely respect for the
freedom of expression enjoyed by those working in the media, should have been so fragrantly violated in
Gibraltar.

it has to apply Community directives on single-hulled tankers,

it

Given that with enlargement under way the moment could not be more opportune, does the Council
intend to suggest to the Member State whose colony Gibraltar is that, for the sake of the Union’s good
name, that Member State’s government should both respect this principle and ensure that it is respected?

Reply

(13 May 2003)

The Council recalls to the Honourable Parliamentarian that Article 33 of the Treaty on European Union
considers the maintenance of law and order a matter for which the Member States are responsible.

(2003/C 222 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0209/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Environmental impact of the enlargement of Eivissa airport

The Commission needs to assess the Eivissa airport (Balearic islands) extension scheme in terms of its
environmental impact on the Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park which borders the airport.
This is an area of the highest ecological value, protected by various EU directives.

The environmental impact study carried out by the Eivissa i Formentera Island Council concludes that:

1. The extension of the runway and the construction of the covered parking area would involve
extending the airport’s current perimeter to the northeast, which means occupying land which lies
within the outlying protection zone of the Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park (Law 17/
2001 of the Parlament de les Illes Balears). This would directly affect the entire protected area; there
would be major social economic effects thanks to the new take-over of privately owned land and
housing; there would be increased acoustic and air pollution of the sand-dune ecosystems of the Es
Codolar area, which are classified as a predominantly conservation area and there would be effects in
landscape terms; and furthermore, the area belongs to the special protection area for birds under the
Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) (1).

2.

Extending the perimeter of the airport’s service area would involve the direct takeover and complete
remodelling of the parcels of land lying within the Natural Park’s boundaries. The occupied area
belongs to the extreme southwest corner of the Es Codolar sand dune system, which is classified as a
conservation area and protected by the EEC Habitats Directive as an ecosystem of Community interest.
Furthermore, the enlargement will mean a whole range of major changes in other areas bordering the
Natural Park of Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera, changes which will in their turn impact on the
Natural Park.

C 222 E/164

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Has the Commission carried out an environmental impact study in connection with the foregoing? If so,
what was the outcome? If not, does the Commission intend to carry out such a study with a view to
assessing the ecological impact on the Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park, and above all, the
possible violation of the Community Directive on Birds 79/409/EEC, the Habitats Directive, and any other
EU environmental legislation?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of the situation the Honourable Member is referring to in this written question,
having just received a complaint on the subject. That complaint is currently being examined.

Regarding the Honourable Member’s question, the Commission would point out that the performance of
impact assessment studies on individual projects falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the competent
national, regional or local authorities, and that it is for project developers to supply such studies to the
competent authorities in order to obtain project consent.

In any event, as guardian of the Treaties the Commission will take the necessary steps to ensure that
Community law is observed in this instance.

(2003/C 222 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0210/03

by Christine De Veyrac (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: URBAN II initiative

The declaration concerning the URBAN initiative, annexed to the interinstitutional agreement of 6 May
1999 (1), states that a budget of up to EUR 200 million may be assigned to URBAN II by mobilising the
flexibility instrument.

Does the Commission intend to mobilise this reserve in the framework of the next budgetary exercise?

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Urban II Community Initiative had not been planned when the Berlin financial perspectives were
approved in 1999. The Initiative was created in 2000, at Parliament’s behest in particular, and its funding
comes from some of the budget appropriations initially intended for innovatory measures.

The declaration on the Urban Initiative mentioned by the Honourable Member states:
‘In view of the
reduction in the amount provided for innovatory measures, relating to the Urban Initiative, the institutions
agree that they will examine the possibility of allocating up to EUR 200 million for this purpose, by
mobilising the flexibility instrument during the period 2000-2006.’

The Commission believes that the declaration mentioned by the Honourable Member in her written
question relates to the possible repayment of EUR 200 million to the innovatory measures budget. So it
does not intend to mobilise the flexibility instrument in favour of the Urban Community Initiative.