WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1977/97 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Commission. Risk to the archaeological site at Keratea from creation of a landfill site
10. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 45/135 Following a preliminary study by the municipality of Nea Ionia the project was put out to tender. The technical study drawn up by the firm to which the work was assigned was sent to the Culture Ministry, which marked its agreement by a decision set out in its document YPPO/DAM/472/29563/14. 6. 96. Final approval was transmitted on 8 August 1996 and the work began. On 4 February 1997 the Culture Ministry came back on its first decision and called for changes to the project relating to the artificial lake, the enclosure and certain other features. On 11 February the work was interrupted in order to permit archaeological excavation and modification of certain technical particulars of the project in line with the Member State’s instructions. The Commission considers that any action to be taken in regard to the monument is a matter not of its competence but of the national authorities’. For this type of project an environmental impact study is not required. The project is however covered by a signed agreement between the municipality of Nea Ionia and the Environment Ministry. The environmental authorities are thus closely associated with the project, the purpose of which is to upgrade the urban area in question. (98/C 45/174) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1977/97 by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission (9 June 1997) Subject: Risk to the archaeological site at Keratea from creation of a landfill site The location chosen for a waste processing plant in Attica is situated in a broader area designated a completely protected archaeological site, the Ovriokastro of Keratea, where an ancient fortified settlement survives together with other finds and ancient mining shafts. Bearing in mind that the Archaeological Department of the Ministry of Culture has delivered a negative opinion on the project, will the Commission say what measures it can and will take to prevent the creation of a landfill site in a location of archaeological and historical interest which forms part of the European cultural heritage? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (29 July 1997) Under Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1), an installation for the disposal of industrial and domestic waste belongs to one of the categories in Annex II. Pursuant to Article 4, projects belonging to the categories listed in Annex II should be subject to an environmental impact assessment, where Member States consider that their characteristics so require. One of the elements to be taken into account in an environmental impact assessment is the material asset and the cultural heritage. Directive 75/442/EEC (2) on waste provides that waste installations must obtain a waste permit. Waste permits are inter alia for the purpose of implementing Article 4 of the Directive which provides that Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that waste is disposed of without adversely affecting áplaces of special interestí. In order to know whether or not an environmental impact assessment was undertaken in this case, and whether or not a waste permit has been issued, a letter will be sent to the Greek authorities requesting information concerning the procedures followed for the installation of this landfill site. (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985. (2) OJ L 194, 25. 7. 1975