WRITTEN QUESTION E-0831/04 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Radar installation on Pico do Areeiro — Environmental impact study.
Date: 2004-03-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Madeira, Portugal, application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental law, impact study, military base, protected area, telecommunications equipment

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/889

(2004/C 84 E/0982)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0831/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(15 March 2004)

Subject: Radar installation on Pico do Areeiro (cid:1) Environmental impact study

In the answer given on 5 March 2003 to my Written Question E-0157/03 (1) on the continuing use of
Pico do Areeiro (Madeira) as a radar installation site, Mrs Wallström indicated that she would await the
environmental impact study, to be carried out at the request of the Portuguese authorities, before stating
an opinion.

According to reports in Portugal an environmental impact study has apparently already been produced.

What, therefore, is the Commission’s view on the study?

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 101.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that it has examined the environmental impact
study for the radar project in question on the site of Community importance ‘Maciço Montanhoso Central’
and the special protection zone ‘Maciço Montanhoso Oriental da Ilha da Madeira’, which includes a nesting
site used by Pterodroma madeira.

According to the study, the main impact of the project will be the effects of the radar illumination on the
birds’ orientation. However, the study found that if certain measures were taken, such as reducing the
strength of the beam and directing the beam towards the ground, the impact would be minimised.
The study also found that both the nesting site and the flight corridors used by the birds were situated
outside the radiation zone.

As an environmental
impact study has been carried out for the project and has not indicated any
significant impact on the abovementioned protected species, the Commission does not consider that the
situation contravenes the relevant provisions of Community law and has therefore decided to close
complaint 2002/5069 on the project in question.

(2004/C 84 E/0983)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0832/04

by Anne Ferreira (PSE), Ioannis Souladakis (PSE)
and Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(15 March 2004)

Subject: Theatrical signers and audience members with hearing difficulties

Theatre performances may be translated for audience members with hearing problems by a signer.
The option of having a signer present usually depends on the initiative of either the theatre, the theatre
company, or specific arrangements requested by an audience with hearing difficulties. As a result, people
with hearing difficulties are excluded from many cultural activities across the European Union. In addition,
today, there are few trained theatrical signers.

What, if any, initiatives is the Commission taking to ensure that people with hearing difficulties might
participate in cultural activities? What support does the Commission offer towards the training of theatrical
signers?