WRITTEN QUESTION E-1688/03 by Anders Wijkman (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The construction of the Ladia Galaska road in the province of Aceh, Indonesia.
Date: 2003-05-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU policy, Indonesia, ecosystem, environmental policy, environmental protection, road building

C 78 E/44

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

In addition, the Commission considered that the proposed compensations are as yet not adequate to make
up for the negative effects of the project on Natura 2000. The compensation package should involve the
establishment of an overall management plan for the Natura 2000 sites to provide a framework for
implementation of the long term targets of the compensatory measures as well as the future management
of the sites. The package must also include a commitment from the Swedish Government with assurances
the compensatory
funding, efficient
on sufficient
measures, to ensure achievement of the targets.

implementation, maintenance and monitoring of

As regards Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of 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, the Commission did indeed investigate whether the EIA carried out by the Swedish
authorities fulfilled the requirements of the Directive. Having investigated the claim of complainants that
Community law had been breached in this respect, the Commission concluded that no infringement of the
EIA Directive could be identified. Regarding any further EIA on this project, it is the responsibility for the
Swedish authorities to see that a complete EIA is carried out before the development consent is granted.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2004/C 78 E/0042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1688/03

by Anders Wijkman (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 May 2003)

Subject: The construction of the Ladia Galaska road in the province of Aceh, Indonesia

The Leuser Ecosystem Region in the war-torn province of Aceh, Indonesia, has a wealth of biodiversity
which makes it one of the most important conservation areas in the world and which performs life
support functions for the sustainable development of more than 4 million people living around it. The
European Union has for many years supported conservation efforts, most recently investing in the Leuser
Development Programme. The 2002 -2006 EU Country Strategy for Indonesia proposes the twin priorities
of good governance and preservation and sustainable management of natural resources.

It is of severe concern that the Aceh Government wishes to construct a major road network called Ladia
Galaska through the Leuser ecosystem which would lead to its eventual destruction, as it would facilitate
illegal logging and the poaching of endangered species and, as experience has recently shown, lead to
major flooding. The road has not gone through a fair, objective and comprehensive environmental impact
assessment process and violates various environmental laws and regulations.

Although it is to be welcomed that President Megawati of Indonesia has ordered a review of the road, the
struggle for the preservation of the Leuser Ecosystem is a long way from being over.

1.
Given the EU’s investment in the region, the EU’s Strategy Priorities for Indonesia and the EU’s
Gothenburg commitment to halting biodiversity decline, could the Commission inform us as to what
action it is taking to try to prevent the construction of the Ladia Galaska roads?

Given the commitment to integrating the environment into all forms of policy, could it furthermore

2.
assure us that it will not fund any infrastructure projects that risk harming the Leuser Ecosystem?

And will the Commission be exercising influence on the Indonesian Government, the Aceh Provincial
laws pertaining to the

3.
Government and the local district governments to make sure that relevant
construction of infrastructure projects are observed?

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/45

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2003)

importance of the Leuser region in Aceh and has,
The Commission is well aware of the ecological
therefore, supported the conservation of the area through the ‘Leuser Development Programme’ (with a
Community support of EUR 31 000 000).

The Commission has also promoted and supported the establishment and the self-sufficiency of the ‘Leuser
International Foundation’ (LIF) as a crucial mechanism to ensure the long-term sustainable protection of
the Leuser Ecosystem. The LIF was granted the right to implement the conservation management of the
Leuser Ecosystem for seven years by Ministerial Decree No 227 in 1995, and this was strengthened by
Presidential Decree No 33 in 1998, with the right extended to thirty years. The Community support to the
the existing
Leuser International Foundation contributes to the Government’s efforts to ensure that
protection laws aimed at conserving the Leuser Ecosystem will be duly enforced.

The Commission is aware of the environmental degradation that opening of roads and the subsequent land
clearance would have on such a delicate ecosystem, as well as the potential adverse consequences on the
long-term sustainable economic growth and social development which the Leuser Ecosystem supports, and
the potentially damaging effect on the bio-diversity in the area.

In order to prevent an escalation of environmental damage and economic loss the ‘Leuser Development
Programme’ and the LIF have been active in lobbying the Government of Aceh, the District Governments,
the donor community and the central Government to rethink the road proposals and even cancel the most
contentious plans.

The Commission’s Delegation implemented an action plan on this topic with a series of meetings which
were held with several line Ministers. The purpose of the meetings was to put forward the Community
view on Ladia Galaska and to explore possible joint alternatives to the project.

In addition, considering the severe damage to the area that a land transportation network would provoke,
the Commission has been supporting the construction of an airstrip in Kutacane. The Government of Aceh
Tenggara considers this as an alternative for the lost benefits for not proceeding with the construction of
roads through the Leuser ecosystem. The support to the construction of the airstrip in Kutacane has been
based on sound pre-conditions: environmental, technical, legal and financial.

The Commission will endeavour to ensure that funds for which it is responsible are not utilised for
infrastructure projects that risk to damage the Leuser Ecosystem.

(2004/C 78 E/0043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1726/03

by Mikko Pesälä (ELDR) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Shooting noise abatement

Shooting is a widely popular sport which has very solid long-standing traditions all over the world. One
problem that has arisen, however, is the resulting noise, a considerable nuisance factor in the vicinity of
shooting ranges, which are often situated close to built-up areas. Shooting noise has thus become an
environmental problem.

In some Member States the problem has been effectively solved, in particular by adopting the use of
silencers. In Finland, for example, the use of silencers was prohibited before 1993, but the authorisation to
use them has since then brought nothing but benefits. Norway’s experiences have been much the same as
Finland’s. Sweden is at the moment amending its law along similar lines.