WRITTEN QUESTION E-2831/03 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Statements by the Spanish Prime Minister criticising the Convention and announcing his opposition to basic aspects of the agreed Convention text.
Date: 2003-09-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of Europe, EP opinion, European Constitution, Spain, intergovernmental conference (EU), minister, public statement

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/143

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 October 2003)

the French authorities a reasoned opinion for non-compliance with Council
The Commission sent
Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment (1), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (2), and
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora (3) in respect of reparcelling operations associated with the construction of the Le Mans-Tours
section of the A28 motorway.

The French authorities sent several replies to the Commission’s reasoned opinion. In particular, the dossier
was discussed at a meeting between the Commission and the French authorities in February 2003 in
Brussels, at which the French authorities undertook to provide the Commission with further information
regarding compliance with Articles 12(1)(d) and 16 of Directive 92/43/EEC, a local and national
management plan for Osmoderma eremita, further proposals for sites of Community importance, and
guarantees regarding monitoring of the reparcelling work on the ground. The French authorities formally
sent the Commission this information under cover of a letter of April 2003 from the Permanent
annexes.
Representation of
The Commission is currently examining the official response from the French authorities in order to
decide, as soon as possible, what further action to take in this matter.

to the European Union. That

included voluminous

France

letter

In handling this matter, as in handling any infringement it deals with as guardian of the Treaties, the
Commission works in complete independence and observes Community law scrupulously.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2004/C 70 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2831/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(23 September 2003)

Subject: Statements by the Spanish Prime Minister criticising the Convention and announcing his

opposition to basic aspects of the agreed Convention text

What is the Council’s position on the European Parliament resolutions calling for the agreements reached
within the Convention not to be called into question? In this connection, what is the Council’s position on
the statements made by the Spanish Prime Minister, José María Aznar, publicly calling into question the
work done by the Convention, claiming that it failed to abide by the mandate assigned to it and stating
that the Intergovernmental Conference should amend basic aspects of the draft Constitution submitted
to it?

Reply

(8 December 2003)

The Council, at its meeting on 29 September 2003, took note of the opinion of the European Parliament
which it had consulted in conformity with Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union.

The Council has not taken a view on any statements made by individual Member States, nor would it be
appropriate for it to do so.