WRITTEN QUESTION E-3275/03 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Destruction of Russian forests.
Date: 2003-11-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, forest, forestry holding, forestry policy, private sector, sale, sustainable forest management

C 78 E/506

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The project, as described by the Spanish authorities, consists of coastal works along 600 meter (m) of the
shoreline to allow for bathing activities. The main actions considered in the project are the construction of
a discontinuous dyke and the deposit of sand in order to build the beach. This kind of project is listed in
Annex II (cid:1) point 1, k) (cid:1) of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 (2), 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.

Pursuant to Article 4.2 of the above Directive, Member States shall determine, on a case-by-case basis,
according to thresholds or criteria, or a combination of both, whether a project listed in Annex II shall be
made subject to an assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10 of the Directive. For this purpose,
Member States shall take into account the selection criteria set out in Annex III of the Directive, which
refers to the characteristics of the project,
its location and the characteristics of the potential impact.
Member States shall ensure that the determination made by the competent authorities is made available to
the public.

As stated in the Resolution of 14 March 2002, the Spanish authorities have determined whether this
project should be made subject to an impact assessment procedure. This determination has concluded that
the project is not likely to have significant effects on the environment and, therefore, no impact assessment
should be required.

According to available information, the Commission considers that the Spanish authorities have respected
the provisions of the above-mentioned Council Directives concerning the mentioned project.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1993.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2004/C 78 E/0526)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3275/03

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 November 2003)

Subject: Destruction of Russian forests

It is reported that the Russian Government plans to sell off a vast proportion of Russia’s forests to private
logging companies. Such forests act as a giant ‘carbon sink’ second only in importance to the Amazonian
rainforests. Is the Commission aware of this situation and, if so, what does it believe that the EU can do to
dissuade the Russians from a policy that can have enormously damaging environmental consequences?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2003)

The Commission is not aware of any plans on the part of the Government of Russia to sell off a vast
proportion of Russia’s forests to private logging companies although it has seen press reports regarding the
new Russian Forest Code. Concessions granted to companies, private or otherwise, may or may not have
an adverse effect on the management of those forests. The Russian Government has expressed its
commitment to the sustainable management of its forests in various international fora, among them the
Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe. The Commission expects Russia to live up
to those commitments and implement the relevant resolutions.