WRITTEN QUESTION E-3448/03 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Operation of quarries in a protected area.
Date: 2003-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Peloponnese, application of EU law, biotope, countryside conservation, environmental impact, environmental law, industrial pollution, mining operation, protected area

C 84 E/62

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

like to specify that, on its part, it does not dispose of indications concerning possible anticompetitive
agreements or collusion between insurers in the Italian market that would be contrary to European
competition law (Article 81 of the EC Treaty).

to the insurance undertaking
The Authority’s analysis in addition shows that other factors external
contributed to thetariff increases and their high level, such as the high costs of the compensation granted
for personal damages and the uncertainty of the criteria determining such compensation in Italy.

Only in 2002 did most insurance companies reach a situation where motor insurance premiums income
exceeded cost of claims plus expenses. In 2003 tariffs have apparently started to decrease for some
categories of drivers, as confirmed by the data from the Italian Authority for the Supervision of the
insurance sector (ISVAP).

In the conclusions of the ISVAP report in 2002 it is stated, with regard to the survey of the Italian
Competition Authority, that the Italian system is not entirely comparable with the one existing in countries
like France or the United Kingdom. These Member States have had freedom of tariffs for many years and,
unlike in Italy, there was no obligation for insurance undertakings to provide coverage to all policyholders.

In addition to the above considerations, the Honourable Member is invited to consider also the relatively
high cost and frequency of accidents in Italy as pointed out by the Commission in its reply to the question
E-1522/03.

According to the European insurance legislation the tariffs of motor insurance should be determined by
market forces. The Commission believes that, in the future, a more competitive and efficient European
insurance market will lead to more competitive tariffs for the benefit of consumers in the Union.

(2004/C 84 E/0068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3448/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Operation of quarries in a protected area

The Strofylia-Kotychi cluster of habitats in the western Peloponnese (Achaia and Ileia prefectures)
is
protected by the Ramsar Convention and by Directive 79/409 (1) and has been included in the Natura
2000 network (serial number 128, code GR 2320001). At its north-eastern edge, in the Mavra Vouna
(‘Black Mountains’) area (which supplies the habitat with fresh water and where,
‘inter alia’, at least
100 species of birds find shelter, of which 27 are protected by Community directives) aggregates quarries
have been operating since 1964, and in recent years they have intensified their activities, causing serious
damage to the Black Mountains and Kalogria lagoon. In addition, they give rise to unbearable living
conditions in neighbouring Araxos (through which many hundreds of lorries pass each day, starting at
4 a.m., accompanied by clouds of dust (cid:1) as the lorries are very often uncovered (cid:1) deafening noise, and
damage to the foundations of buildings). All the above facts constitute multiple violations of both
Community law and many national provisions.

Is the Commission aware of the above-mentioned facts, complained of by the residents, environmental
non-governmental organisations and local government bodies? Does the Commission intend to check to
what extent the above-mentioned directives are being complied with, and whether the quarries in question
have permits and approvals relating to environmental conditions and whether they are complying with
them? What measures will be taken to ensure compliance with the law for the period up to 2005, when it
is believed that the quarries will close definitively?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/63

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2004)

The Strofylia and Kotychi biotopes have been classified by Greece as special protection areas (codes
GR2320001 and GR2330009) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation
of wild birds (1) and proposed as sites of Community importance (codes GR2320001 and GR2330006) in
accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and
of wild fauna and flora (2).

Under Article 7 and Article 6(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC, the Greek authorities must ensure that activities in
the area do not lead to deterioration of habitats on the sites or significantly disturb the species found there.
Article 4(1) and (2) of Directive 79/409/EEC require Member States to give these special protection areas
an appropriate legal status.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that on the basis of the facts reported in question
E-3204/01 by Mr Papayannakis (3) it opened an own-initiative case, in order to check whether there was a
system of protection for the sites. Its investigations showed that Greece had not taken the necessary
measures to establish and implement a coherent, specific and comprehensive legal framework ensuring the
sustainable management, conservation and effective protection of
the sites, having regard to the
conservation objectives of Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC. Considering that Greece had failed to
fulfil its obligations under Article 4(1) and (2) of Directive 79/409/EEC and Article 7 and Article 6(2) of
Directive 92/43/EEC, the Commission initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC
Treaty in October 2003.

In the light of the above, it is clear that the Greek authorities must set up an appropriate system for
protecting and managing the sites. This must establish the conditions under which existing activities and
new activities may be carried out on protected sites, having regard to the conservation objectives of
Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC. Under Greek law, such a system must include approval of a
specific environmental study (management plan), adoption of a joint ministerial decision specifying
environmental protection measures tailored to the site and its implementation by a management body
specifically set up for the purpose.

Once it has seen the comments of
the Commission will check for any
the Greek authorities,
incompatibility with the abovementioned Community provisions and will take all necessary measures to
ensure that Community environmental legislation is complied with.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ C 160 E, 4.7.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Single payment within the reform of the COM in olive oil

The Commission Communication on ‘accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through
the reform of the CAP (cid:1) the tobacco, olive oil, cotton and sugar sectors’ (1) final states that ‘adhesion to
the single farm payment’ (cid:1) instead of the existing production-linked payments (cid:1) ‘enables low input olive
oil producing regions to maintain their overall level of income support’. But the Communication also states
that this single payment ‘could bring problems to certain traditional producer regions’ and that ‘there exists
a significant risk of widespread disruption to olive tree maintenance’, particularly ‘where such areas
manifest a high dependency on the olive sector in their local economies’. In its previous attempts at
reform, the Commission tried to abolish the current production aids against the wishes of the producer
countries, who resisted the attempts, pointing out the significant risk of ‘production abandonment’. The
current proposal, forming part of the recent CAP reform, goes further still, by uncoupling production
subsidies.