WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2990/97 by Joan VALLVÉ to the Commission. Sand extraction project in the south-eastern part of Majorca
C 134/48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 (98/C 134/58) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2984/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Council (30 September 1997) Subject: Statoil operations in waters surrounding East Timor Statoil, the Norwegian state-owned oil company, is currently undertaking exploratory work in the waters surrounding Indonesian-occupied East Timor. Norwayís Energy Minister, Ranveig Froeiland, announced recently that no action would be taken against the company in spite of the continuous abuse of human rights in East Timor and the fact that neither Norway nor the UN has accepted a framework proposal for oil exploration in the area. Given the Councilís common position on East Timor and its efforts to end human rights abuses there, will it urge the Norwegian authorities and Statoil to cease oil exploration in the area? Answer (15 January 1998) This question refers to the sovereign decision-making process of a third country which is not a member of the European Union. It does not therefore fall within the competence of the European Union. (98/C 134/59) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2990/97 by Joan Vallve· (ELDR) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Sand extraction project in the south-eastern part of Majorca The Directorate-General of the Spanish Environment Ministry has begun the administrative procedure to seek approval for sand to be extracted in a new area off the coast of Majorca. In this instance there are plans to extract 8 million cubic metres of sediment in an area of between 72 and 170 hectares off the south-east coast of Majorca, to be used for the áregenerationí of beaches. The size of the project has caused alarm within the local fishing sector, which fears that its traditional fishing grounds will be destroyed, as happened in Palma Bay in 1989 when 500 000 cubic metres were extracted. In the current case, where sixteen times as much sand is to be removed, the economic and environmental impact could be disastrous, especially in view of the fact that the project will be located in areas populated by Posidonia Oceanica which are specifically protected under Directive 92/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. This question was referred to the EC two years ago, an event which caused much rejoicing in Majorca. Is the EC aware of the project in question and of the consequences which, pursuant to Directive 85/337/EEC (2) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, it will have for the areaís economy and ecosystem? Does the Commission consider that, in an area such as the waters around the Balearic Islands in which fishing grounds are becoming increasingly impoverished on account of illegal fishing, sand extraction and pollution, it is sensible to allow such environmentally damaging activities to continue? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. (2) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40