WRITTEN QUESTION E-0927/03 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE), Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE),José Mendiluce Pereiro (PSE), Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE)and Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Proposed transfer of water from the River Ebro to Barcelona.
Date: 2003-03-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Spain, environmental impact, environmental protection, hydraulic works, water supply

C 268 E/162

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

a lack of scientific knowledge and the high costs of carrying out research and surveys in offshore marine
areas. To accelerate this implementation, the Commission created a Maríne expert group, with the
participation of experts from most Member States, including Portugal. The aim of the expert group is to
establish a European common approach to deal with the problems of full implementation of Natura 2000
in the marine environment, and its first meeting took place in Brussels in March 2003.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2003/C 268 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0927/03

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE), Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE),
José Mendiluce Pereiro (PSE), Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE)
and Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 March 2003)

Subject: Proposed transfer of water from the River Ebro to Barcelona

According to a press release published by Europa Press on 6 March 2003, the European Commission is
soon to approve cofinancing for the ‘Catalonia mini-transfer’ (diversion of water from the River Ebro to
metropolitan Barcelona).

The Catalonia mini-transfer, which is also known as the ‘Interconexión de Redes CAT-ATLl’
(inter-
connection of the water supply systems for Tarragona and Ter Llobregat) is the first step in the process of
water transferral from the Ebro to Catalonia’s internal river basins, and will constitute the first section of all
the Spanish National Hydrological Plan. Presenting it as an
the Ebro transfers envisaged under
interconnection of the water supply systems for Tarragona and Ter Llobregat is unjustified from a
technical standpoint, given its hydrological and geometric characteristics, and circumvents the environ-
mental and economic checks on all transfers from the Ebro.

This plan for the interconnection of water supply systems, which the Government of the Autonomous
Region of Catalonia made available to the public in August 2002, is not yet a consolidated plan since the
40 000 complaints submitted by various organisations still have to be resolved. Once this has been done, a
definitive plan would have to be drawn up, with this being the plan that could in principle receive
Community funding.

1.

Can the Commission indicate whether the press release published by Europa Press is accurate?

If it is accurate, how is it that the Commission can authorise the cofinancing of a project for which

2.
the administrative approval process has not yet been completed?

Is the Commission aware that neither a section-by-section environmental impact study nor a global

3.
study have been carried out for this interconnection plan?

Does the Commission not feel that it should have at its disposal a joint global assessment that takes
4.
into account the impact of the various projects to transfer water north and south from the lower reaches
of the River Ebro before authorising cofinancing for them?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2003)

The Commission has not yet taken a decision on the project ‘Conexión de las redes regionales de
abastecimiento de agua potable del CAT y ATLL’
(Interconnection of the water supply systems for
Tarragona and the Ter-Llobregat), as this project is still in the study phase. All decisions approving support
for projects under the Cohesion Fund must respect the requirements of the Regulation as well as with all
relevant Community legislation.

The Spanish authorities have informed the Commission that they consider that this project falls under the
exceptions set out in annex II of Council Directive No 85/337/CEE of 27 June 1985, on assessment of the
effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1), as amended by Council Directive
No 97/11/EC (2), and, accordingly, an environmental
impact assessment is not required. Furthermore,

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/163

within the same analysis, the authorities have concluded that the project does not directly or indirectly
affect, either for its characteristics or its location, any area of natural or cultural interest or any protected
area included in ‘Natura 2000’.

In accordance with the Regulation, the Commission examines projects submitted for financing of the
Cohesion Fund on an individual basis and on its own merits.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2003/C 268 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0945/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 March 2003)

Subject: EU involvement in the restoration of the ‘Gate of the Granadas’

The ‘Granada Alhambra Trust’ will shortly commence restoring the ‘Gate of the Granadas’, an arched
gateway into the Alhambra, of great architectural value.

The badly dilapidated archway is not merely of architectural value, it is also significant at popular level,
rich in tradition and history.

Does the Commission believe that it ought to be making a major contribution to the restoration work, so
as to enhance its association in the popular mind with restoration work on particularly important historic
buildings which have genuine popular appeal and significance, by identifying with the way that local
people feel about one of the most important historic monuments in the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2003)

The Commission may support initiatives in the area of culture, but only within the framework and
according to the selection criteria of the ‘Culture 2000’ programme, which is the Union’s sole instrument
for financing and planning cultural cooperation.

This programme is intended to support projects that are jointly run and financed by at least three
operators from at least three countries taking part in the programme.

The Honourable Member can find further information at the following site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/
culture/c2000.

Other possible sources of assistance might be the ‘local operational programme (2000-2006)’ or the
‘integrated operational programme for Andalucia (2000-2006)’, which come under the Community
Support Framework setting out the development strategy for the Spanish regions covered by Objective 1.
Priority 5 under the two operational programmes, and in particular measures 5.7 (tourist and cultural
infrastructure) and 5.8 (conservation of the historical, artistic and cultural heritage), might well provide
funding for this type of project.

As,
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the choice of projects to be co-funded is the
responsibility of the Member State, any further information can be obtained by contacting the following
national authorities:

(cid:1) Junta de Andalucía (cid:1) Consejería de Economía y Hacienda

Dirección General de Fondos Europeos
Director General
Antonio Valverde Ramos
Edificio Torretriana (cid:1) Isla de la Cartuja (cid:1) C/ Juan Antonio Vizarrón
E-41092 Sevilla
tel. +34.95.5065015
fax +34.95.5065014
e-mail: webmaster@ceh.junta-andalucia.es
web: Junta de Andalucía (cid:1) Consejería de Economía y Hacienda