WRITTEN QUESTION E-1428/03 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) and Salvador Jové Peres (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Urban development plans in Pinya de Rosa (Blanes, Catalonia).
Date: 2003-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, application of EU law, coastal protection, environmental impact, impact study, urbanisation

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/117

three wastewater treatment plants in Milan is currently ongoing. The Italian
The construction of
Authorities have informed the Commission that they predict the installations ‘Milano Sud’ (treating 40 % of
the urban wastewater of Milan) and ‘Peschiera’
(10 %) will be operational at the end of 2004. The
installation ‘Nosedo’ will eventually treat 50 % of Milan’s urban wastewater. The Italian Authorities have
stated that this station started working at 25 % of its potential
in April 2003. Full operation will be
achieved by January 2005. The Commission is continuing to monitor the situation.

The Commission has also launched an infringement procedure against Belgium because of untreated
wastewater discharges from Brussels. The case was brought before the Court of Justice in January 2003.
According to the Belgian Authorities, they are proceeding with the investment programme for stringent
(tertiary) treatment plants for Brussels. The predicted date for completion is June 2006.

Finally, a Commission report (in preparation) on the implementation of the urban wastewater Council
Directive 91/271/EEC will give information on the present treatment situation across the Union. The
report will be available within the coming months.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998, OJ L 67, 7.3.1998.
(2) An organic-pollution measuring unit representing the average pollution produced per person per day.

(2004/C 33 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1428/03

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) and Salvador Jové Peres (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Urban development plans in Pinya de Rosa (Blanes, Catalonia)

(24 April 2003)

The Pinya de Rosa estate, the last undeveloped nature area on the coastal strip (with 1 400 metres of
coastline) in the Blanes municipal district, includes the Pinya de Rosa Tropical Gardens (with 700 species),
a 60-year-old mixed wood of holm oaks and pines, a rocky coastline in a perfect state of conservation and
richly diverse flora and fauna on the sea bed and along the shore.

The proposal
for a European Parliament and Council recommendation for Integrated Coastal Zone
Management in Europe recommends drawing up national strategies to protect the severely threatened
coastal environment, particularly on the Mediterranean coast.

There have since 1994 been determined efforts by certain groups of investors to develop this nature area,
which would mean that the whole of the sea-front of Blanes would become man-made.

In view of all the above, and if as seems likely this development plan goes ahead, does the Commission not
agree that this would affect various directives, including:

(cid:1) 85/337/EEC (1), as amended by 97/11/EC (2), on the assessment of the effects of certain public and

private projects on the environment;

(cid:1) 92/43/EEC (3) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 2003)

The Honourable Members ask the Commission if a proposal for an urbanisation project in Pinya de Rosa
(Blanes-Cataluña-Spain) is subject to Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of

C 33 E/118

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (EIA Directive) as amended by
Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997, and to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive).

The Honourable Members state that the rural property of Pinya de Rosa is the last natural space of the
coastal strip in the municipality of Blanes with 1 400 meters of coast line including a Tropical Garden
(700 species), a mixed forest of oaks and pines of more than 60 years of age, as well as a rich flora and
fauna in the sea-bed and the coast.

According to the EIA Directive, Member States are obliged to ensure that, before development consent is
given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature,
size or location are made subject to an assessment of the environmental effects. Certain infrastructure
projects and projects for tourism and leisure are included in Annex II of the EIA Directive, which could
cover the urbanisation project mentioned by the Honourable Members. In that case Member States have to
determine if the project is likely to have significant effects on the environment on a case-by-case basis or
by using thresholds or criteria. The relevant selection criteria set out in Annex III of the EIA Directive shall
be taken into account. In the affirmative an environmental impact assessment has to be carried out.

Regarding the Habitats Directive, Member States are responsible for the designation of Sites of Community
Importance. These sites have to fulfil the criteria set out in Annex III, stage 1 of the Habitats Directive.
These are based on assessment, at national level, of the relative importance of the sites for each natural
habitat type of Community interest and each species of Community interest whose conservation requires
the designation of Special Areas of Conservation.

According to the information available, the site has not been proposed by the Spanish Authorities as Site
of Community Importance, nor designated as Special Protected Area for birds.

(2004/C 33 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1430/03

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Environmental threats in Algeciras Bay

(24 April 2003)

On 20 January 2003, Greenpeace conducted a protest action in Algeciras Bay against the single-hull tanker
‘Vemamagna’, which was built in 1978 and shows many similarities with the ‘Prestige’. This vessel, which
is owned by the company Vemaoil, flies a flag of convenience. Its presence in the bay constitutes a risk in
itself, and it is also used in highly polluting activities as a floating fuel depot.

On 17 March 2003, the tanker slipped its anchor, started to drift with 70 000 tonnes of fuel on board,
and could have triggered the same kind of catastrophe as the ‘Prestige’.

On 6 December 2002, the Transport Council adopted additional measures to improve safety at sea and
decided that these should be implemented immediately, along the lines suggested by the Commission and
the European Parliament when adopting the Erika I and II packages.

What action will the Commission take to ensure that existing EU measures regarding safety at sea are
applied immediately and in full in the case of this tanker?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 2003)

With regard to the measures taken by the Commission to improve maritime safety and the protection of
the environment since the sinking of the Prestige, the Honourable Member is requested to refer to the
Communication of 3 December 2002 and the various interim reports presented to the Community