WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/03 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Project to combat coastal erosion at Maríne di Ugento.
Date: 2003-09-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Apulia, application of EU law, coastal protection, environmental impact, environmental law, erosion, impact study, operational programme

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5. 2002 onwards (CSF III)

This educational programme has been extended to all areas with a gypsy population and
supplemented by new measures. It is co-financed by the CSF III ‘Employment and continuing
training’ programme.
In the initial phase, 130 accelerated catch-up courses are planned to integrate children into
mainstream education. These are not special schools for gypsies but entail a preparation and
support programme to help them reintegrate into the school system. Courses for trainers and
production of teaching materials are also on the agenda.
This initial phase will also include: literacy courses for 600 adults, courses in oral and written
communication in Greek for 150 adults and training of 150 adults in basic areas such as health,
children’s education, etc.

6. Health

7. Over

the period 1997-2002,

the Ministry of Health, Prefectures and non-government

organisations (NGOs) ran a vaccination programme.

8.

For 2002-2008 (CCA III) a public health programme is planned, co-financed under the CSF III
Health and Welfare operational programme. It includes action on preventive health, vaccination
and health education. A particular example is a mobile medical unit which has already visited 20
gypsy encampments. By the end of the period it will have visited all the communities concerned.
The unit performs preventive examinations (blood tests, chest x-rays, PAP tests, etc).
In some communities, with the help of national funds, a permanent housing programme is being
include 50 health centres. These centres will be co-financed by the
implemented, which will
corresponding CSF III regional programmes.

9.

Employment Promotion

10. 1997-2001 saw the implementation of some hundred occupational training programmes. The

participants included around 1 800 members of the gypsy community.

11. For the current period, a number of vocational training and employment support programmes are
planned under the ‘Employment and vocational training’ OP and the regional CSF III programmes.
They primarily target disadvantaged groups, including the gypsy community.

12. Gypsy Support Centres (Adults and children)

This project is co-financed under the EQUAL initiative. There are currently ten centres operating
in ten different districts. They provide advice and information in areas such as education,
employment, health, housing and relations with the administrative authorities. In the districts with
housing projects (national funds) 20 more such centres are planned for the current period.

(2004/C 65 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/03

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: Project to combat coastal erosion at Maríne di Ugento

The Regional Operational Programme (ROP) for Apulia envisages Community funding for a project
intended to tackle the emergency caused by the erosion of the sandy coastline of Maríne di Ugento
(Measure 1.3. (cid:1) soil conservation measures (cid:1) Action 2: measures to protect the coastline).

The project receiving funding, to be carried out by the company Etacons, s.r.l., covers:

(a)

the rebuilding of three wall-panels situated along the beach, to be carried out by raising the remains of
four other panels located in the same area;

(b) dredging the sand from the present inlet between the two existing breakwaters and moving it to cover

the adjacent coastal area;

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(c)

(d)

removing the existing inlet by ‘raising’ the outer breakwater and eliminating the inner breakwater,
which is considered to be the main cause of the erosion;

the building of another new breakwater approximately 220 metres long and 24 metres wide in that
same inlet.

As regards this project it should be noted that:

1.

2.

3.

the construction of a breakwater more than 220 metres long in an area covered by a number of
conservation orders is incompatible with the aims of restoring the environment set out in the ROP;

the new breakwater is useless as far as containing coastal erosion is concerned, since one of the
contributory causes of the erosion is precisely the presence of two other breakwaters in the area;

the project has not been subjected to an environmental impact assessment, an essential prerequisite
for eligibility for Community funding.

In view of the above, does the Commission not consider that the project constitutes an inappropriate use
of Community funding designed to safeguard the environment?

Does it not consider that the competent authorities should ascertain whether the project is legitimate and
lawful, in view of the improper use being made of the Structural Funds?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2003)

is the responsibility of

It
the Apulian authorities managing the regional programme to which the
Honourable Member refers to select the projects to be included in it and verify that Structural Fund
resources are to be used in a way that complies with the Community environmental rules in force.

These authorities have confirmed to the Commission that such a selection procedure was in fact followed
for the project in question.

The Ecology Department of
‘environmental impact assessment’ for the project subject to certain requirements:

the Environmental Assessorate for Apulia Region gave a favourable

(cid:1) completion without any site access widening, as that would lead to worse damage to the dune

environment,

(cid:1) movement of the sand by pumping and not by lorry,

(cid:1) completion of the work without interfering with tourist access to the sea during the summer period.

Work on the project was suspended by the Public Prosecutor’s Office on 10 June this year for a check to
be made that the work in progress was in fact that scheduled and carried no risk of provoking more
serious erosion. The suspension was lifted on 29 August.

The Commission has received a complaint covering the same points as the Honourable Member raises and
the information he has given has been added to the file. The complaint is now being assessed and if the
Commission concludes that Community law is being breached it will, as guardian of the EC Treaty, not
hesitate to take whatever action, including infringement proceedings under Treaty Article 226, is needed to
ensure observance of Community law.