WRITTEN QUESTION E-0510/03 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Danger of zebra mussel infestation if the Ebro diversion project is carried out under the PHN.
Date: 2003-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, EU financing, Spain, environmental impact, environmental protection, mollusc, water management

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/141

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2003)

With regard to the proposed transfer of water from the river Ebro into other river basins in Spain, the
Commission has been engaged in an extensive dialogue with the Spanish authorities in order to ensure
that the design and eventual implementation of the transfer are compliant with Community environmental
legislation and policy.

The Commission is aware that there are some potential problems with the quality of the water in the
lower Ebro. However, with regard to conductivity, the current average values in the lower Ebro are around
1000 microSiemens per centimetre. Council Directives 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning the
quality of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States (1) and 98/83/
EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (2) set down values of
1000 and 2500 microSiemens per centimetre, respectively, as indicator (non-obligatory) parameters.
Therefore, the transferred water is suitable for pre-drinking and drinking water supply at least as far as the
conductivity is concerned. In addition, the conductivity, of the water in the lower Ebro is lower than the
majority of the surface and groundwater resources in the projected receiving basins. In conclusion, from
the data currently available to the Commission it is unlikely, at least as far as the question of conductivity
is concerned, that there will be a deterioration of the water quality of the receiving basins as a result of the
proposed transfer.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(2) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.

(2003/C 242 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0510/03

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 2003)

Subject: Danger of zebra mussel infestation if the Ebro diversion project is carried out under the PHN

The zebra mussel is a bivalve mollusc, a species that can cause large-scale ecological disruption because it
covers every substratum in its path, thus damaging ecosystems. It can even seriously interfere with the
operation of water supply infrastructure. It is posing a severe problem for the Ebro, and the nuisance
it is forbidden to
would spread if infested river waters were diverted. From the legal point of view,
introduce exotic species which upset the ecological balance. Despite this, diversion of the Ebro into other
basins is still provided for under the Spanish National Water Resources Plan (PHN) but is not subject to the
stringent environmental impact assessment required to guarantee that the project would be safe.

Does the Commission intend to grant financial aid for a project that would entail disastrous consequences
for the environment? In any event, should it support a plan which infringes the guidelines of the Water
Framework Directive not only because it takes no account of the effects on the ecological state of
ecosystems, but also because it disregards the principle that a basin should be treated as a unified whole, as
well as failing to properly enforce the principle of recovery of costs?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2003)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to previous answers to Written Questions E-2708/
02 and E-2819/02 by Mr Davies (1); E-0638/02 by Mr Mayol i Raynal (2); E-3205/01 by Mr de Roo and
others (3); E-2614/01 by Mrs Sornosa Martinez and others (4); and E-2568/00 by Mr Varela Suanzez-
Carpegna (5). In summary, the Commission is engaged in an extensive dialogue with the Spanish authorities
to ensure that the design and eventual implementation of the Spanish National Hydrological Plan is in
conformity with Community environmental legislation including the Water Framework Directive (6).

C 242 E/142

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

funds and cohesion funds),
With regard to the possible use of Community funding (structural
the regulations associated with these funding programmes require that projects should be consistent with
Community legislation and policy. It is the Commission’s role to monitor that these rules and regulations
are respected.

With regard to the issue of the Zebra mussel, the Commission is aware of its presence in the lower Ebro.
The Commission is also aware of the significant environmental and economic damage, which can result
from the introduction of this species into river systems. If water were to be transferred from the lower
Ebro into other river basins there is a clear risk that the Zebra mussel would be transferred along with the
water. The Spanish authorities will need to take this important issue into account when carrying out
environmental impact assessments of the proposed inter-basin transfers.

(1) OJ C 92 E, 17.4.2003, p. 201.
(2) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002.
(3) OJ C 174 E, 20.6.2002.
(4) OJ C 134 E, 6.6.2002.
(5) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.
(6) 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 (cid:1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2003/C 242 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0511/03

by María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 2003)

Subject: TSE surveillance programme

According to the Commission’s reply to Oral Question H-0896/02 (1), the lower amount allocated to Spain
under the TSE surveillance programme is due to the reduction in the Community contribution to the cost
of individual tests.

Have the amounts allocated to other Member States likewise been reduced?

Has the Spanish allocation been cut because the funds earmarked for 2002 were underused on account of
the failure to carry out the full complement of tests?

Have larger amounts been allocated to other Member States which have shown that they are conducting
more tests?

Can the Commission give details of the new share-out of funding among the 15 Member States?

(1) Written answer of 11.12.2002.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2003)

Commission Decision 2002/934/EC of 28 November 2002 approving the transmissible spongiform
encephalopathy (TSE) monitoring programmes of certain Member States for 2003 and fixing the level of
the Community’s financial contribution (1) establishes the maximum financial contribution to the TSE
monitoring programme in each Member State for 2003.

The maximum amount allocated to each Member State was calculated based on a maximum contribution
of EUR 10,5 per test and the actual number of tests carried out in that Member State in the second half of
2001 and the first half of 2002. Compared to 2002, the maximum allocations have been reduced by
7-30 %, depending on the Member State. In the case of Spain, the reduction was 29 %.