WRITTEN QUESTION E-2095/03 by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Construction of high voltage power station by the Greek PPC in the Argyroupolis — Ilioupolis area.
Date: 2003-06-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU competence, Greece, building permit, electrical energy, environmental impact, industrial project, power plant, town-planning regulations

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/199

(2004/C 51 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2095/03

by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Construction of high voltage power station by the Greek PPC in the Argyroupolis (cid:1) Ilioupolis area

The planning and construction of a high voltage power station (HVPS) by the Greek PPC was approved in
accordance with Article 24 of the Greek law L. 2516/1997 in an area that belongs to the B protection
zone of mount Imittos. The stipulations of this article were judged non valid by the High Administrative
Court, due to infringement of the Article 24 of the Greek Constitution referring to protection of the
environment. Objections (referring to the construction licence and the environmental impact assessment
study) were submitted by the mayor of
the city of Argyroupolis and a few citizens to the High
Administrative Court against the construction of the HVPS, but the trial has been postponed three times
(1 November 2002, 7 February 2003 and 9 May 2003). Three public schools are situated less than
50 metres from the area where the HVPS will be constructed.

Although the construction of the HVPS violates the Greek Constitution, the Government has adopted a
new law L. 2947/2002 for Olympic works, which includes the construction of the HVPS. Referring to this
law, the Minister of Public Works issued another construction licence, No 59365/25.7.2002. The PPC and
the Government never examined alternative solutions, contrary to the provisions of Greek Law.

Furthermore, the Government has refused to give access to interested parties to the new construction
plans, and policemen present in the neighbourhood since the beginning of May 2003 have refused access
to the wider area to the general public.

Do the present works on the HVPS by the PPC in Argyroupolis-Ilioupolis comply with Directive 97/11/
EC (1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment?

Under which authorised planning and construction licence are the works on the HVPS being continued?

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

Reply

(13 October 2003)

The Council informs the Honourable Parliamentarian that it is not competent to answer these questions.

(2004/C 51 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2099/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Fishing in the EU’s western waters

Recently (on 4 June) the European Parliament voted to ensure that Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93 (1) and
(EC) No 685/95 (2) would remain in force for a 10-year period, and it did so in connection with its vote on
its legislative resolution on a proposal for a Council regulation on the management of the fishing effort
relating to certain Community fishing areas and resources and modifying Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93.

Parliament’s position was supported by an overwhelming majority of 334 to 108, with 48 abstentions.

Notwithstanding the allocation of powers and responsibilities amongst the various EU institutions, such a
clear and eloquent expression of a political view by those elected to represent the people of the various EU
Member States (more than an absolute majority of Parliament’s total membership and over two-thirds of
the votes cast) cannot be ignored either by the Commission or by the Council.