WRITTEN QUESTION E-0692/03 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Landfill sites for the hygienic disposal of waste in Greece.
Date: 2003-03-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, Greece, application of EU law, storage of waste, waste disposal, waste management

C 242 E/164

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

(2003/C 242 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0692/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Landfill sites for the hygienic disposal of waste in Greece

(7 March 2003)

Will the Commission say what are its views on the creation of landfill sites for the hygienic disposal of
waste in Greece?

How many waste tips do not meet Community specifications?

What actions has it taken to prevail upon Greece to comply with Community legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The landfilling of waste must be done in accordance with Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975
on waste (1) as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 (2) and with Council Directive
1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (3).

According to the information transmitted by the Greek authorities there are at present 33 sanitary landfill
sites, which accept around 33 % of municipal waste in Greece. Another 60 % of municipal waste is
disposed of in tips, that do not satisfy the requirements set by Community legislation. The national waste
management plan adopted in 2000 sets out the objective to adapt sanitary landfills to the environmental
specifications and to rehabilitate the uncontrolled or illegal landfills.

On the basis of this information and following a large number of complaints about uncontrolled or illegal
the Commission initiated an
waste disposal sites that do not comply with Community legislation,
infringement procedure under Article 226 of the Treaty establishing the Community in July 2002. The
Greek authorities recognised that 1 458 illegal or uncontrolled landfills were still in operation and declared
that a new waste management plan was under adoption. According to their timetable all illegal landfills
would be closed by the end of 2007 and be replaced by permanent installations. In this framework, the
Greek authorities have solicited the aid of the European Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. A number
of landfills are actually under authorisation or under construction in various regions of Greece.

The Commission delivered a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the EC Treaty in December 2002
inviting Greece to take the necessary measures to comply with the requirements of the provisions of
Directive 75/442/EEC as amended. If Greece does not comply with its obligations under the Community
legislation, the Commission will not hesitate to bring the matter before the Court of Justice.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.
(3) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.

(2003/C 242 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 March 2003)

Subject: Doping in amateur sport

On 15 May of last year Commissioner Reding presented a study on the use of drugs by amateur sportsmen
and -women attending the ca 23 000 fitness centres in the European Union. One of the recommendations
made by the authors of the study was the introduction of quality labels for such products and systematic
checks on their composition. This was motivated above all by the fact that (harmful) products of this kind
can be ordered via the Internet.