WRITTEN QUESTION E-3887/03 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Measures to tackle legionnaires' disease.
Date: 2003-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer information, disease prevention, infectious disease, public health, travel agency

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/109

authorities so as to check that the requirements of Article 3 of Directive 92/43/EEC (2) on assessing the
indirect impact of schemes on protected areas and the conservation objectives concerned were being met.

Can the Commission state whether the Spanish authorities, as laid down by the Directive, have
demonstrated the complete absence of alternatives to this scheme? Can the Commission confirm that the
Spanish authorities believe that the construction of the thousand chalets and the two hotels in question is
an absolute necessity ‘because it is a project of public interest’? Has the Commission been informed of the
compensatory measures which the Spanish authorities intend to carry out so as to guarantee that there is
no negative impact on the Natura 2000 Network in this instance?

The Commission failed to respond with regard to the species protected by the Birds Directive (79/409/
EEC (3)) which inhabit the areas mentioned.

Does the Commission not believe that the building of these chalets and tourist installations runs flat
counter to the provisions of the Birds Directive in terms of the negative impact which these building
schemes will have on the protected species?

(1) OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004, p. 477.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2004)

The Spanish authorities have not yet replied to the request
concerning the urban and tourist development project
Commission has not yet reached any conclusions in its investigation of the issues raised.

for information from the Commission
the

in the Renegà Range. For this reason,

On the other hand, the Commission considers that Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the
conservation of wild birds (1) is not relevant to this case, as the Spanish authorities have not classified this
area as a Special Protection Area and the scientific community has not included it in the inventory of
Important Bird Areas.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2004/C 84 E/0146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3887/03

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Measures to tackle legionnaires’ disease

On 22 October 2003 the Commissioner for Public Health and Consumer Protection, Mr Byrne, replied on
to tackle legionnaires’ disease
behalf of
(E-2797/03) (1). However, his response failed to answer any of the four questions that I had raised.

the Commission to my written question on measures

Is the Commission prepared to re-read carefully written question E-2797/03 and its answer and to

1.
provide detailed replies to the issues raised?

C 84 E/110

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

As the Commission might well imagine, the questioner, along with present and potential victims of
2.
legionnaires’ disease, are less than happy about being fobbed off with an answer that leaves them none the
wiser.

(1) OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004, p. 756.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2004)

The Commission would like to confirm that:

1. There are no compulsory guidelines concerning the matter raised. The European Working Group for
Legionella Infections (EWGLI) network and its operating guidelines are entirely voluntary and there are
no binding rules on the matter for the Member States or for any organisation in the Union.

2. Of course it is desirable for travel organisations to provide the fullest possible information on any

disease that might be of concern to those receiving services from them.

As regards the questions concerning the submission by the Commission of proposals on the matter, these
relate to the right of initiative of the Commission and have been fully addressed in the reply given
previously to the Honourable Member’s written question E-2797/03.

(2004/C 84 E/0147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3895/03

by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 December 2003)

Subject: Conflicts between the objectives of

the Renewable Energy
Directive, the Emissions Trading Directive and the goal of ensuring security of supply: the case of
Austria

the Water Framework Directive,

Austria is supposed to increase its share of renewable energy from 70 % to 78,1 % by 2010, with the help
of charges introduced under the new Emissions Trading Directive for thermal power generation. However,
according to E-Control, the Austrian regulatory authority for the electricity and gas market, implemen-
tation of the Water Framework Directive will mean 5-15 % less hydroelectric power being generated than
at present, and thus a reduction of approximately 1,5-4,5 TWh per year in the share of Austria’s electricity
generated from renewable energy sources. This reduction can only be partially compensated by the
increased use of environmentally friendly energy, which is itself only made possible thanks to overly large
subsidies.

If it is assumed that there will be a moderate growth in electricity consumption of between 1,7 and 3 %
per year, the reduction in thermal power generation brought about by the introduction of quotas for CO2
emissions will mean an additional shortfall of 16-25 TWh per year, which will need to be met through
imports. Given that gaps still exist in the 380 kV high-voltage electricity grid in Styria and Salzburg, this
will make it extremely difficult to maintain a high level of security of supply, as became clear in August
when there was a near-blackout. The use of imported energy would also mean a considerable drop in the
share of Austria’s electricity generated from renewable energy sources.

Can the Commission state what priorities it believes should be set in the national implementation of the
above directives and in achieving the goals of the final report on the Green Paper ‘Towards a European
strategy for the security of energy supply’, and how it believes it is possible to achieve an overall vision
and approach given these conflicts of objectives?