WRITTEN QUESTION E-2416/03 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Communication on PVC strategy.
Date: 2003-07-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: plastics, substitute product, waste recycling

C 65 E/146

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

As a result, the Commission proposed a review of the Trans-European Networks programme which led to
Decision No 1229/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 laying down
a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks (repealing Decision No 1254/96/EC (2)). Annex I
to this Decision lists the 12 axes for priority projects; axis EL.3.
(France (cid:1) Spain (cid:1) Portugal) deals
specifically with the problem raised, since it is aimed at ‘increasing electricity interconnection capacities
between these countries and for the Iberian peninsula and grid development in island regions’. Annex II to
the Decision lists the projects of common interest, three of which concern new interconnections between
Spain and France and Portugal
(2.8, 2.9, 2.10) while nine more concern new or upgraded national
interconnection lines that are also needed in order to achieve optimal use of trans-border interconnections
(3.18, 3.19, 3.20, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23, 3.41, 3.42, 3.43) and, finally, two concern, respectively, the upgrading
of electricity interconnection between Spain and Morocco (4.15) and a new direct interconnector between
Spain and Algeria (4.30), within the framework of the development of energy policy for the enlarged
Union, its neighbours and partner countries.

The recent power outage in the United States highlighted the need for good-quality infrastructure and
sufficient capacity to ensure security of supply.

As scheduled in its work programme, the Commission will this year present a Communication on
electricity infrastructure, which will set out measures
that
infrastructure in order to ensure security of supply, boost trade and facilitate competition.

for speeding up the development of

Directive 2003/54/EC (3) on the internal market in electricity requires Member States to take the necessary
steps to ensure security of supply by providing appropriate levels of
infrastructure maintenance/
development and, in particular, of interconnection capacity.

joint control over Spain’s

Finally, the Commission would recall its Decision of 19 March 2002 (4) concerning an agreement giving
Energie Baden-Württemberg (EnBW), Electricidade de Portugal S.A. (EDP) and Caja de Ahorros de Asturias
(Cajastur)
fourth largest utility company Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico
(Hidrocantábrico). As a condition clearing the agreement, the Commission asked that Electricité de France
(EDF)
(which controls EnBW) and the operator of the French electricity grid, EDF-Réseau Transport
Electricité (RTE), should undertake to increase substantially to about 4 000 megawatt (MW) the commercial
capacity on the interconnector between France and Spain.

(1) Communication of the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on European energy infrastructure,

COM(2001) 775 final.
(2) OJ L 176, 15.7.2003.
(3) Directive 2003/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules

for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 96/92/EC, OJ L 176, 15.7.2003.

(4) Case No IV/M.2684 (cid:1) EnBW/EDP/Cajastur/Hidrocantábrico, OJ C 114, 15.5.2002.

(2004/C 65 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2416/03

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: Communication on PVC strategy

The Commission’s answer to my oral question H-0259/03 (1) provides no information over and above
what has been known for two years now. At the same time, the subject of the strategy on PVC referred to
in that question formed part of the Commission’s work programmes for 2002 and 2003. In the light of
the above, could the Commission specify when it is that it intends to present the specific communication
on PVC? Could it explain why the Review of chemicals policy and the Thematic strategy on recycling only
take into consideration PVC and do not cover other materials?

(1) Written answer of 13.5.2003.

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/147

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2003)

While it is not possible to give a precise indication of when the Commission will be in a position to bring
forward its planned Communication on the environmental issues of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) many of the
issues arising are the subject of ongoing work. A study is currently being carried out to compare the life-
cycle assessments of PVC and other potential substitute materials in a wide range of applications and first
results are expected early in the new year. The Commission is also keeping under continual review
progress towards the achievement of the voluntary commitment made by industry to phase out lead
stabilisers in PVC by 2015 and increase recycling of PVC by an additional 200 000 t by 2010, as well as
assessing the level of ambition of this commitment. For that purpose senior Commission officials, together
with Members of the European Parliament, are members of the monitoring group which will oversee the
operation of the voluntary commitment. As regards other aspects mentioned in the Commission’s Green
Paper, consideration is currently being given to banning the use of cadmium in PVC, and, in the case of
phthalates, risk assessments are still ongoing.

The Communication (1) towards a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste, while not
addressing PVC specifically, addresses it indirectly under the prevention and recycling of waste in general.

The framework legislation on Chemicals, which is expected to be adopted later this year, while not
focusing specifically on PVC, will cover chemicals in general and their uses in products.

(1) COM(2003) 301final.

(2004/C 65 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2418/03

by Dominique Souchet (NI) to the Commission

Subject: Sustainable use of pesticides and aerial spraying

(21 July 2003)

Paragraph seven of the European Parliament’s resolution on a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of
pesticides (P5_TA-PROV(2003)0128) states that Parliament ‘fully supports the recommendation for a ban
on aerial spraying and the possibility to designate pesticide free zones’. This resolution forms part of the
Van Brempt Report, which was adopted by Parliament at its plenary sitting of 27 March 2003 in Brussels.

Helicopter spraying accounts for only 1 % of the plant health treatments employed in Europe. However,
some pesticide products can only be applied from the air, for a variety of reasons: the location of the
parasite or the scale of the crop (cercosporiosis in bananas, the pine processionary caterpillar,
last
generation European corn borer, the corn root beetle), the geographical relief of the crop area (sloping
vineyards), the type of climatic aberration (vine or potato mildew) or problems of access to the crop (rice
fields).

In this case, how does the Commission intend to reconcile the ban on aerial spraying with the need for a
consistent approach to combating plant diseases that sometimes can also affect man?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2003)

The Commission continues to be concerned about the specific risks linked to the application of pesticides
via aerial spraying, in particular due to the exposure of bystanders and the environment incurred through
spray-drift.

The Commission would like to recall that its proposals regarding a ban on aerial spraying in the
Communication ‘Towards a Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides’ (1)
foresaw the
possiblity for derogation, when there are clear advantages and also environmental benefits compared to
other spraying methods. The proposals have incited numerous comments from various stakeholders, which