WRITTEN QUESTION P-1171/03 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Spanish National Hydrological Plan and Commission capacity to examine documents.
Date: 2003-03-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, degradation of the environment, environmental impact, hydrology, quality of the environment, water management, watercourse

C 11 E/162

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

On 4 March 2003 the Council reached a political agreement on a common position for the ‘Forest Focus’.
The common position will be sent to the Parliament for a second reading in accordance with the co-
decision procedure.

(1) OJ L 326, 21.11.1986.
(2) OJ C 20 E, 28.1.2003.

(2004/C 11 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1171/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 March 2003)

Subject: Spanish National Hydrological Plan and Commission capacity to examine documents

In response to my question H-0810/02 (1)
the Spanish
in December,
Government’s response of July 2002 to the Commission letter of May 2002, providing further information
on the Spanish National Hydrological Plan ‘does not refer to an increase in salinity of 20-50 % in the lower
Ebro’.

the Commission stated that

I refer the Commission to Annex C19 (page 112) of the Spanish response of July 2002, which states that:
(English translation) ‘in conclusion, the increase of saline concentration in the lower stretch of the Ebro
river, as a consequence of the development of all the irrigation foreseen in the long term (about
500 000 hectares), is between 20 and 50 %.’

I note that this fact is not referred to in the main Spanish Government document, which concludes on the
Ebro river (page 12) that:
‘from a qualitative point of view, there are no very
significant effects … even assuming the full development of all the irrigations foreseen in the long term’.
Nevertheless, the salinity issue is clearly raised in Annex C19.

(English translation)

I therefore ask again, in the light of this ‘new’ information, for the Commission’s response as to how it will
ensure that the obligation under the Water Framework Directive to prevent further deterioration of the
quality of waters of this river will be respected, given the projected increase in salinity?

(1) Written answer, 17.12.2002.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

In the Commission’s answer to the previous question on the same subject (Oral question H-0810/02 of Mr
C. Davies (1)), it was assumed that the Honourable Member was referring to the possible effects of the
proposed Ebro transfer on the salinity in the lower Ebro river. The Commission now understands that the
question is directed towards the deterioration in water quality, which is projected to arise as a result of
changing patterns of water use in the Ebro catchment. These projected changes are unrelated to the issue
of the proposed Ebro transfer.

The Spanish National Hydrological Plan foresees a significant increase in the area of irrigated land in the
Ebro catchment over the next 20 years. It is possible that this may lead to an overall increase in the
salinity/conductivity of the water in the lower reaches of the river. Today the conductivity of the water in
the lower Ebro is in the region of 1000 micro Siemens (by comparison, the conductivity of sea water is up
to 100 times this level).

The requirement of the Water Framework Directive (2) is the achievement of good ecological and chemical
status in all surface waters by 2015. Clearly, a significant increase in the conductivity of water in the lower
Ebro as a result of
these
objectives. The Spanish authorities will need to address this issue in the development of the river basin

increased irrigation for agriculture may compromise the achievement of

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Official Journal of the European Union

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management plan and the programmes of measures to be developed for the river Ebro under the Water
Framework Directive.

(1) Written answer of 17.12.02.
(2) 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, OJ L 237, 22.12.2000.

(2004/C 11 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1173/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Institutional framework envisaged by Europe for jointly funded projects

In recent weeks road networks in Greece have been damaged by landslides, subsidence and fissuring, etc.
Despite the progress achieved in recent years by Greece regarding EU-funded public works projects, they
are still bedevilled on a regular basis by poor workmanship, delays, overspending, supplementary contracts,
the absence of any organisation formally responsible for carrying out surveys, etc.

What view does the Commission take of this and what are its recommendations? What action is it taking
to establish an institutional framework at European level so as to shed a clearer light on the awarding of
contracts and execution of projects with a view to achieving good standards of workmanship and
compliance with deadlines and estimates in respect of projects jointly funded by the EU?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s concern over the need for a European level institutional
framework guaranteeing transparency in the assignment of contracts to carry out work. Such a framework
already exists in the form notably of Council Directive 93/37/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning the
coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts (1), which has already been correctly
transposed into Greek law.

Under the above legislation the Member States themselves are responsible for the work they carry out.

The Commission considered that it could not ignore the structural weaknesses the Greek public works
domain. In the context of the second Community support framework the Greek authorities agreed with it
on the need for reform targeted on improving the quality of technical planning and construction work
itself and on execution of work within the contracted cost and time frameworks. This reform is to
continue in the context of the third Community support framework.

(1) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993.

(2004/C 11 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1174/03

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Nuclear safety at military sites in the UK and other Member States

The UK has implemented Euratom Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive (96/29/Euratom (1)) with the
Radiological Emergency Public Preparedness Information Regulations (Reppir).