WRITTEN QUESTION E-0735/03 by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE)and Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Ebro water transfer and Structural Funds Regulation.
Date: 2003-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, Structural Funds, co-financing, eligibility criteria, hydrology, project management, terms for aid, watercourse

C 11 E/112

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

(2004/C 11 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0735/03

by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE)
and Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Ebro water transfer and Structural Funds Regulation

According to the definition given in the Structural Funds Regulation (Article 25 of EC Regulation 1260/
1999 (1)), the SNHP’s Ebro river water transfer is a ‘major project’. It comprises an indivisible series of
works fulfilling a precise technical function and its total cost exceeds EUR 50 million. The Ebro transfer
was considered as a ‘major project’ in the letter from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for
the Environment (19 December 2002) to the Spanish Ambassador, and in the reply by the Spanish
Authorities (8 January 2003).

Article 26.2 of Regulation 1260/1999 indicates the conditions for approval and implementation of major
projects.

These include the obligation for the Member States to provide in advance to the Commission information
inter alia on:

(cid:1) analysis of the costs and socio-economic benefits of the project

(in the case of

investment in

infrastructure);

(cid:1) evaluation of the environmental impact and implementation of the precautionary principle.

Scientific socio-economic and environmental analysis,
show that the Ebro transfer is far from complying with these conditions.

including the controversial

‘Cartagena’ study (2),

Can the Commission confirm that the Ebro transfer will be dealt with as a major project and that the
necessary requirement will be met before any decision about co-funding is taken by the Commission
services?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.
(2) A. Horne & others, A technical review of the Spanish National Hydrological Plan (Ebro river out-of-basin diversion),
Fundación Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 7 January 2003. See also Arrojo Agudo P. & others, Análisis y
valoración socioeconómica de los trasvases del Ebro, WWF European Policy Office, September 2002.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2003)

Under the Spanish Law on the National Hydrological Plan, the Ebro river transfer is made up of several
hundred interventions.

there may well be some projects

the
Among these interventions,
EUR 50 million threshold laid down in Article 25 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (1). Were
any of such projects to be submitted by the Spanish authorities for co-financing by the Structural Funds,
they would, consequently, be appraised by the Commission as major projects. Any such project will have
to comply with all the requirements requested for major projects and in particular, Article 26 of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, as well as with any other relevant applicable Community legislation.

for which the cost exceeds

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.