WRITTEN QUESTION E-1711/03 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Protection of a Greek island threatened with disappearance.
Date: 2003-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Aegean Islands, European Commission, archaeology, coastal protection, coastal region, environmental protection, erosion, heritage protection, project of common interest

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

The disappearance of international rail services does not contribute to the achievement of the aims of the
common Transport Policy as set out in the Commission White Paper of September 2001 (3), which
provides the maintenance of
the levels of 1998.
The Commission is preparing, as announced in its Workprogramme 2003 and requested by the Parliament
in its vote on the second railway package in January 2003, proposal for a Directive on the gradual
opening up of the market for international passenger services by rail. If adopted, this Directive should
enable the creation of a level playing field for railway undertakings to operate international passenger
services under their own responsibility in several Member States.

the rail mode in 2010 at

the modal share of

(1) Directive 2001/14/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2001 on the allocation of railway
infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and safety certification,
OJ L 75, 15.3.2001.

(2) Council Directive 91/440/EEC of 29 July 1991 on the development of the Community’s railways, OJ L 237,
24.8.1991, as amended by Directive 2001/12/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2001, OJ L 75,
15.3.2001.

(3) White Paper: European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide, COM(2001) 370 final.

(2004/C 51 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1711/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Protection of a Greek island threatened with disappearance

The island of Zourafa is located in the north-east Aegean, approximately six nautical miles from the Greek
island of Samothrace. Zourafa (or ‘Ladoxera’ (oil island) as it is known by the fishermen) is the most north-
easterly point of Greek territory, and of the European Union.

Many significant archaeological finds have been located in Zourafa, such as marble columns, capitals,
remains of ancient dwellings etc., and the island is in need of urgent protection, since erosion by the sea is
likely to make it disappear completely within five to six years, according to reports in the Greek press. It is
worth noting that islets that appear in maps from 1955 (not far from Zourafa) have today completely
vanished beneath the sea. The last 40 years have seen a dramatic reduction in the size of Zourafa itself.

island (which is the furthermost border of Greek and Community territory)

Has the island of Zourafa been included in any Community initiative to protect vulnerable areas
(e.g. Natura 2000 or another initiative)? Have the Greek authorities informed the Commission that this
small
is threatened with
complete disappearance caused by sea erosion, although it has some very important archaeological
remains? Could there even now be some kind of initiative by the EU to save the island of Zourafa, and if
so, what form could it take?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 2003)

The Commission has not been informed by the Greek authorities in relation to the problems of coastal
erosion on the island of Zourafa. The island is not included in the Natura 2000 network nor is it proposed
as a Special Protection Area under the Birds Directive (1).

However, the Recommendation 2002/413/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2002,
concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
invites
Member States to draw up national strategies for ICZM. Among strategic elements to take into account in
these strategies, the Recommendation includes in its Chapter I, point c,
‘appropriate and ecologically
responsible coastal protection measures,
including protection of coastal settlements and their cultural
heritage’.

in Europe (2)

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Official Journal of the European Union

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the Commission is currently implementing a pan-European project on coastal erosion.
Moreover,
This project, EUrosion (3), should deliver an assessment of coastal erosion through a Europe wide database
and an evaluation of coastal defence methods and identification of best practices. The conclusions and
recommendations from this project are due in 2004.

(1) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 148, 6.6.2002.
(3) www.eurosion.org

(2004/C 51 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1714/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Extraction of water from the River Segura

The River Segura flows through the province of Alicante for around 31 km before it reaches the
Mediterranean. The Autonomous Communities of Andalucia, Castilla la Mancha, Valencia and the Murcia
region are all located in the Segura river basin. The residents of the province of Alicante make up around
17 % of the population of the whole river basin.

The total water resources of the river basin are estimated at 1500 hm per year, derived from groundwater
as well as water channelled from the River Tagus. The annual average rate of flow at the river’s headwaters
is more than 30 cu m per second.

According to my information, one of the objectives of the river basin’s administrators is to ensure a
minimum flow of 4 cu m per second between Contraparada (Murcia) and the Guardamar dam at the
river’s outlet in the province of Alicante.

The River Segura’s rate of flow does not reach this level where it passes through Oriola (Orihuela) in the
province of Alicante, and this could be a result of the fact that excessive quantities of water, both surface
and underground, have been extracted for years along certain parts of
the river’s course. These
circumstances mean that its flow has been reduced to minimal levels by the time the river enters the
province of Alicante, with all the consequent pollution and health risks that this implies.

Is the Commission aware of the state of the Segura River? Is it considering asking the Spanish government
and the autonomous governments of Murcia and the Community of Valencia to explain how they are
guaranteeing compliance with Community directives on the environment? On the same point, are checks
required on the legal status of all extractions of water from the river?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2003)

The status of the River Segura, especially the non-compliance of the minimum flow needed in order to
maintain the river’s ecological status and the amount of over-exploitation that occurs all along the river
basin,
indeed raises the consequence of sanitation problems for the ecosystems and neighbouring
communities.

The Commission is aware of the ecological and hydrological status of the River Segura and the related
problems in the surrounding area, and would refer to its reply to Written Question E-1354/03 by
Mr Marset Campus (1) concerning this matter. As stated in that reply, it has to be underlined that the
current state of the river is caused mainly by the absence of a regular flow, which gives rise to poor
interconnection between ground and surface waters and progressive salinisation of the soil. In addition,
uncontrolled waste water discharges, industrial pollution and agricultural run-off all add to the pressures
on the river. As described in the previous reply, the Commission has initiated several general actions and
infringement proceedings against Spain in order to ensure compliance with water-related European
legislation. It should also be noted that the Spanish authorities are taking measures in order to solve the
situation.