WRITTEN QUESTION E-0406/03 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Urgent measures to protect the SPA Valloni e Steppe pedegarganiche in Apulia, Italy.
Date: 2003-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Apulia, EU control, business start-up, complaint to the Commission, environmental impact, environmental protection, infringement procedure (EU), project evaluation, protected area, protection of animal life

C 280 E/54

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

In 2001, the Commission has assessed the system of disposal charges on its conformity with the state aid
rules. The Commission concluded that this system did not contain any element of state aid (3). Since in
only 7 % of the cases the costs were passed on to the end consumers, the Commission also concluded,
within the framework of the state aid assessment, that car producers and importers pay for at least a
significant part of the costs in conformity with Article 5, paragraph 4 of Directive 2000/53/EC.

(1) OJ L 269, 21.10.2000.
(2) See: ‘Staatsblad van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden’ 2002 259.
(3) Commission Decision 2002/204/EC of 30 October 2001 on the waste disposal system for car wrecks implemented

by the Netherlands (cid:1) OJ L 68, 12.3.2002.

(2003/C 280 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0406/03

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 February 2003)

Subject: Urgent measures to protect the SPA ‘Valloni e Steppe pedegarganiche’ in Apulia, Italy

The SPA ‘Valloni e Steppe pedegarganiche’ (Code No IT9110008) in Apulia, Italy, is under serious threat
from a series of measures, in particular reindustrialisation projects (cid:1) factories, a gasification plant, the
‘Magic Land’ shopping centre, hotels, roads, carparks, etc., a large proportion of which are covered by the
Manfredonia Regional Pact. Other serious environmental effects are caused by the conversion of
agricultural land, in particular dry grazing land turned into prickly pear plantations. All these projects are
concentrated in an SPA (Special Protection Area) in blatant contravention of the ‘Habitats’ Directive 92/43/
EEC (1) and the ‘Wild Birds’ Directive 79/409/EEC (2).

The area is of particular importance in preserving biodiversity (cid:1) it is home to the largest colony of bats in
Apulia and the last remaining population of little bustard in mainland Italy. The area has been classified as
an IBA (important bird area).

Failure to implement the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC is seriously threatening the survival of three
habitats of Community importance, one of which is a priority habitat, and species included in Annex II to
the Habitats Directive: 8 species of mammal; 2 species of reptile (including one priority species); one
species of amphibian (a priority species); one species of fish (a priority species); one species of invertebrate
(a priority species); one plant species (a priority species). 30 bird species (including 3 priority species)
covered in Annex I to the Birds Directive are also under serious threat.

After repeated attempts to make the local and national authorities aware of the problem the LIPU (Italian
League for Bird Protection) lodged an official complaint with the Commission (No 2001/4156SG (2001)
A/2150). Following this complaint the Ministry for the Environment and Conservation called a meeting of
a technical panel involving all the parties concerned. The panel has not met since June 2001. Subsequently
the local authority of Manfredonia commissioned an environmental impact assessment (after the event,
since a lot of projects had already been carried out). The assessment has not been made available to
environmental organisations and was never submitted to the panel.
In the meantime the Italian
Government has granted further funding to the Regional Pact, none of which was used for compensatory
measures. All of it was used for further building work.

The area in question has also benefited from EU funding under the LIFE programme in the context of the
project ‘urgent measures for the protection of Natura 2000 sites in the Gargano National Park (cid:1) LIFE
Natura No 4 3200/98/491’ the purpose of which was the conservation of the ‘steppes’, the same
environment that is being destroyed by the Regional Pact. The Region of Apulia benefits from EU
structural funding under Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (3) (Regional Operational Programme 2000-2006).

What steps has the Commission taken to put an end to the infringements of the Community directives
mentioned above and the destruction of the site in question?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/55

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2003)

The Commission has opened a complaint on the issues raised by the Honourable Member for bad
application of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment (1), after amendments by Council Directives 97/11/EC of
3 March 1997 (2), 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (3) and 92/43/EEC of
21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (4). This complaint is
under assessment.

The information given by the Honourable Member has been added to the above- mentioned complaint file.

Should the Commission come to the conclusion that Community law is being breached in the specific
case, it would not hesitate, as the guardian of the EC Treaty, to take all necessary measures, including
infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to ensure the observance of relevant
Community law.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(4) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2003/C 280 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0452/03

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Participation of Robert Mugabe at the EU-Africa summit on 3 April

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s dictator, was received by President Chirac at the start of this month despite
the international sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the European Union in February last year. The
sanctions will end on 18 February 2003 but are expected to be extended because Mugabe has failed to
make any effort to improve the human rights situation in his country. The United Kingdom is refusing to
receive the dictator.

Mugabe is also reported to be attending the EU-Africa summit on 3 April.

Can the Council confirm that Robert Mugabe will be attending the summit?

Does the Council not consider that his participation is incompatible with the sanctions imposed by the
Union against Zimbabwe?

Does the Council support the decision by the French diplomatic service to receive Mugabe when London is
refusing to do so?

How will the Council ensure that the legal situation of the expropriated white farmers in Zimbabwe is put
right in the future?

Reply

(22 July 2003)

When adopting the targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe in February 2002, the Council stated that a
certain number of conditions had to be met before the sanctions could be lifted. Since these conditions had
still not been met, the Council reaffirmed them when it decided to extend the targeted sanctions on
18 February 2003 (1). The Council continues to be concerned about the plight of the Zimbabwean people
and remains convinced that the fast-track land reform programme has aggravated the already precarious
food situation in the country. In response to the illegal occupation of farms in Zimbabwe, the EU already
made a clear appeal to the government in March 2000 to ensure respect for the law and to maintain