WRITTEN QUESTION E-1829/03 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Letters to the Greek Government concerning the use of Community funds and the compliance with EU legislation.
Date: 2003-06-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European Commission, Greece, application of EU law, environmental protection, financial management, infringement procedure (EU), operation of the Institutions

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/175

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

As indicated in the answer to Written Question E-1801/02 by the Honourable Member, the road building
projects are not, in principle, covered by Annexes I and II to Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June
1985, as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997, on the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment.

In any event, it appears that the project has undergone environmental impact assessment. It should be
noted, however, that Directive 85/337/EEC does not specify the criteria by which a project is to be selected
from among the alternative solutions which have been examined, provided the chosen project has been
properly assessed.

In the absence of more specific indications of an infringement of Community law, the Commission did not
feel it was expedient to contact the Spanish authorities in this instance.

Nonetheless,
properly enforced, it will ensure that Community law is complied with.

if the Commission receives additional evidence that Directive 85/337/EEC has not been

(2004/C 33 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1829/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 June 2003)

Subject: Letters to the Greek Government concerning the use of Community funds and the compliance

with EU legislation

Can the Commission say how many letters have been sent to the Greek Government since 1994 and from
whom (Commissioners, directors-general or heads of division) concerning the proper use of Community
funds for environmental protection purposes and the transposition and proper implementation of
Community environmental legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2003)

In accordance with the role assigned to it by Article 155 of the EC Treaty, the Commission maintains
regular and abundant correspondence with the national authorities on the implementation and appropriate
use of EU funds granted to projects contributing to environmental objectives and on the correct
application of EU environmental legislation. The number of letters sent in each case depends on a number
of factors.

For instance, the investigation of a complaint concerning the application of EU environmental law may
comprise several stages involving the dispatch of many successive letters.

When the Commission considers that there is an infringement, it may initiate the procedure provided for
by Article 226 of the EC Treaty which may lead to the matter being brought before the Court of Justice,
preceded by the dispatch of a letter of formal notice and of a reasoned opinion.

However, it is materially and technically impossible to produce statistics showing the total number of
letters which the Commission has sent to the Greek authorities since 1994. However, it is possible to
produce general statistics on the number of complaints or infringements relating to transposition and
application of EU environmental legislation in Greece.