WRITTEN QUESTION P-0626/04 by Juan Ferrández Lezaun (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The Spanish NHP alternatives.
Date: 2004-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Spain, environmental impact, hydraulic works, impact study

C 88 E/518

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0530)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0626/04

by Juan Ferrández Lezaun (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: The Spanish NHP alternatives

The Spanish Government has submitted its request for European funding for transferring water from the
River Ebro, as part of the Spanish NHP. As the Commission has already stated on several occasions, the
vast scale of the water transfer means that a global assessment of the scheme will be carried out.

If the Commission finds against this global assessment, is it correct to state that the earmarked Community
funding will not be allocated to this scheme?

Does the Commission know whether the Spanish Government has alternative schemes ready, should
Community funding be refused for the Ebro water transfer scheme submitted?

What will happen to the funds earmarked for Spain?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2004)

The financing of major projects through the two main Community financial
instruments available to
Spain, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, is subject to the respect
for the regulations on these funds and the programming documents adopted for their implementation.

The Commission adopts its co-financing decisions on major projects in line with the relevant Community
Regulations on these funds and in full compliance with all applicable Community legislation and policies.

At present, the Commission is in the process of analysing the submitted projects. A decision concerning
the possible allocation of Community funds for these projects can only be taken once all the information
has been carefully analysed. Therefore, it is too early to speculate on the outcome of this evaluation.

The Commission is not aware whether the Spanish authorities have alternative projects to the ones
submitted for financing in case these are not accepted.

(2004/C 88 E/0531)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0627/04

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Subject: Failure to comply with Community legislation during border veterinary checks in Spain

The Subdirectorate-General for External and Veterinary Health (SGSEV) of the Spanish Ministry of Health
and Consumer Affairs has issued instructions (1) ordering official veterinarians at border inspection posts to
allow the entry of consignments as direct landings of fishery products when they do not fulfil that
condition under current Community rules, and even exempting certain products from compulsory
veterinary checks (and, consequently,
from the corresponding charges) when these rules contain no
provision for doing so. The SGSEV is also allowing the captains of fishing vessels, an interested party in
the trade transaction, to sign not just a simple declaration but also health certificates on behalf of the
competent authority in the country of origin.