WRITTEN QUESTION E-3825/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Abandoned mines.
Date: 2003-12-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Portugal, environmental protection, mining operation, public health, quality of the environment

C 78 E/860

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2004)

As was announced in the reply to the Honourable Member’s Written Question E-2745/03, the Commission
has discussed with the Spanish authorities the application of Community Environmental Law to the project
of the enlargement of Ibiza airport, during the bilateral meeting held in Madrid in October 2003.
Subsequently, the Spanish authorities have sent a report containing their comments on the facts raised.

This report indicates that the Enlargement Project of Ibiza Airport is currently undergoing an impact
assessment procedure according to the provisions of Community Law.

The Spanish authorities claim that
they have taken into account the allegations made by different
organizations and institutions in the course of this procedure. They have consequently modified the project
so as to restrict the foreseen works to the area situated beyond the limits of the Natura 2000 site
ES0000084 (Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera). As a matter of fact, the only interventions included
currently in the project are a new runway for emergency landings and a new platform for fire-fighting
drills.

The Commission is currently assessing the information provided by the Spanish authorities. As soon as
this assessment is complete, the Commission will be able to draw its conclusions on this case.

(2004/C 78 E/0914)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3825/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject: Abandoned mines

In various EU countries, including Portugal, there are mines which have been abandoned in a very bad
state, with waste water leaching out and forming pools which pollute nearby watercourses and land,
thereby presenting a threat to the environment and public health.

There are a number of particularly serious cases, such as the uranium mines in Portugal. There is in fact a
programme for the recovery of mines, but financial resources are scarce and thus work to prevent
environmental deterioration progresses very slowly.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. what research has been done on abandoned mines in the EU Member States, in particular uranium

mines, and what projects exist to prevent environmental damage and safeguard public health;

2. what support has been given to Portugal for this purpose;

3. what other forms of support will be possible in the short term, bearing in mind the serious situations

in Portugal and the financial problems faced by the country?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2004)

The Commission has, for many years, been well aware of the problems posed by uranium mining and
milling sites once the economic activity at the site has come to an end. These abandoned mines, if they are
not properly managed and subjected to remediation, can pose an important radiological risk to man and
the environment.

The problem is particularly acute in a number of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and has been
the subject of studies under the PHARE and related programmes. A number of Member States, that in the
past were involved in uranium mining (including Germany, France and Sweden), have carried out research
on the remediation of such sites. However, no Community-funded research has been carried out inside the
Union during any of the recent research framework programmes.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/861

The results of a study undertaken for the Commission and published in 1999 once again highlighted
radiological assessment,
concerns about
a characterisation of different restoration options in terms of performance and cost, and a decision aiding
framework using multi-attribute utility functions as well as action levels for intervention referring to
international guidance.

such sites (1). The report describes a methodology for

Under Article 53 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom (2), it is the responsibility of the Member States to
take the necessary steps to reduce the radiological effects of past practices (cid:1) which includes past uranium
mining activities-, such as the area demarcation, monitoring of exposures, implementation of intervention
measures, etc.

In the framework of the PRIME programme, two studies relative to the uranium mines were proposed by
Portugal and have already been approved. The total cost of these studies is EUR 2,754 million of which
EUR 1,656 million will be co-financed by the Community through the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF). The Portuguese authorities have informed the Commission that a further four projects related
to rehabilitation of uranium mines are being studied for a total investment of EUR 12,86 million.

(1)

Investigation of a possible basis for a common approach with regard to the restoration of areas affected by lasting
‘CARE’, available at http://europa.eu.int/
radiation exposure as a result of past or old practice or work activity,
comm/energy/nuclear/radioprotection/publication/doc/115_en.pdf

(2) Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the
health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation, OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.

(2004/C 78 E/0915)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3826/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject: Environmental problems caused by small and medium-sized dairy farms

The need to maintain the competitiveness and profitability of small dairy farms in the face of the current
common agricultural policy has led to the concentration of small and medium-sized farms with between
30 and 50 or 60 cows in rural areas where there are no facilities for treating waste or other possibilities of
environmental assistance for small and medium-sized farms.

Generally speaking such farmers do not have the financial and technical means to solve by themselves the
environmental problems created by their farms. This causes serious conflict in various areas in northern
Portugal where such holdings are concentrated.

Can the Commission say:

1. what forms of Community support can be used to help small and medium-sized dairy farmers with

the investments needed to solve the environmental problems caused by their farms;

2. what steps it intends to take to safeguard the existence of family farming and reconcile dairy farming

with environmental protection?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2004)

The Common Agricultural Policy, with its second pillar, the Rural Development Policy, provides for
possibilities of aid schemes, which may have as a particular target group small and medium agricultural
holdings. The conditions for granting aid are fixed in Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May
1999 concerning support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1). Member States design Rural
Development Programmes according to their specific needs.