WRITTEN QUESTION E-0579/04 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Vasova lagoon.
Date: 2004-02-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental law, environmental protection, protected area, storage of hydrocarbons

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/813

Is there any truth in the reports that Mrs Diamantopoulou will receive no salary from the Commission
during the Greek election campaign?

During this period will she have access to the facilities afforded to her in her capacity as a Commissioner
(official car and driver and so on)?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2004)

The Commission has always held the view that the exercise of the duties of a Member of the College is
incompatible with active participation as a candidate in an electoral campaign for a national parliament or
the European Parliament. This means that throughout such a campaign the Member of the Commission
must not take part in the work of the latter (1).

The aim has been to prevent conflicts of interest and to ensure that the Member of the Commission in
question enjoys complete freedom of action and speech while complying with the principle of collegiality.

Precedents were set by the Vice-President of the High Authority, Mr Etzel, in 1956, the Vice-President of
the EEC Commission, Mr Marjolin, in 1962, the President of the High Authority, Mr Malvestiti, in 1963,
the Vice-President of the EEC Commission, Mr Caron,
in 1963, the Member of the EC Commission,
Mr Deniau, in 1968, the Member of the EC Commission, Mr Hellwig, in 1969, the Member of the EC
Commission, Mr Spinelli, in 1976, and the Member of the EC Commission, Mr O’Kennedy, in 1982, all of
whom did not take part in the work of the Commission during their participation as candidates in
electoral campaigns.

Since suspension of her duties on a Commission decision, Ms Diamantopoulou has not received a salary or
any other kind of remuneration from the Commission.

(1) See, in particular, answers to Written Questions E-0124/68, OJ C 83, 23.8.1968, E-0858/76, OJ C 70, 21.3.1977

and P-2752/94, OJ C 88, 10.4.1995.

(2004/C 84 E/0908)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0579/04

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject: Vasova lagoon

Further to my written question E-1307/02 (1) on fuel storage tank installations in Vasova lagoon, I should
like to provide the Commission with the following latest
to facilitate its
investigations. Vasova lagoon, which forms part of the Delta of the river Nestos and the Keramoti lagoon,
was put forward by Greece under code GR 1150010 as a site of Community interest pursuant to Directive
92/43/EEC (2). However,
instead of the whole lagoon being included in the National Park of Eastern
Macedonia-Thrace and being protected as an integral part of the ecosystem of the Nestos Delta, it is being
totally excluded from the protection areas, even formally. Moreover, the area earmarked for the storage
tank installations has now been increased sixfold and is being excluded from the National Park, contrary to
the provisions of the Park’s founding act in 1996.

information in order

Given that Community legislation on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora is being
flagrantly violated in this case, will the Commission investigate on the basis of which national or
Community legislation the Greek Ministry for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works is
excluding the lagoon in question from the environmental protection to which it is entitled?

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 119.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

C 84 E/814

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2004)

The Commission would like to thank the Honourable Member for the additional
provided.

information he has

On the basis of the facts reported by the Honourable Member in question E-1307/02 (1), the Commission
opened an own-initiative case to check whether the installation of new tanks for the storage and transit of
petroleum products on the Vasova estuary,
is compatible with
Community environmental law. The site in question is a wetland of great ecological importance, which has
been designated by the Greek authorities as a special protection area (‘Nestos Delta and Keramoti Lagoons’
(cid:1) code GR115001) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild
birds (2), and also proposed as a site of Community importance (‘Nestos Delta and Keramoti Lagoons (cid:1)
surrounding region and coastal area’ (cid:1) code GR11500010) under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May
1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (3).

in addition to the existing tanks,

The case has been investigated and it has not been possible to confirm any infringement of Council
Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 (4), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (5),
on the assessment of the impact of certain public and private projects on the environment, or of Council
Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 (6) on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous
substances.

However, the Greek authorities do not appear to have taken the necessary measures to establish an
adequate system for protecting the site and preventing the deterioration of habitats and significant
disturbance of species. Neither have they ensured that any plan or project likely to have a significant effect
on the site in question, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, be subject to
appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.

The Commission is following the case very closely and will not hesitate to take appropriate measures,
including the initiation of infringement proceedings, to ensure that Greece meets the obligations arising
from Article 4(1), (2) and (4) of Directive 79/409/EEC, Article 7 and Article 6(2) and (3) of Directive 92/43/
EEC.

(1) OJ C 301, 5.12.2002.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(4) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(5) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(6) OJ L 10, 14.1.1997.

(2004/C 84 E/0909)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0582/04

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject: Application of Accounting Standard IAS 32 to co-operatives

Is the Commission aware of the effect that the adoption of Accounting Standard IAS 32 by the EU’s
Accounting Regulatory Committee would have on the co-operative movement?

Does the Commission accept that it was drawn up with only public limited companies in mind and is
totally inappropriate for co-operatives because it classifies co-operative share capital as debt?

the Commission ensure that, as in the USA,

Will
this particular provision to
co-operatives should be avoided, without which the effect on the co-operative sector would be devastating?

the application of