WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2996/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/51 Overall however, emissions precursors of ozone (nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) are already set to decline significantly in coming years as a result of Community legislation on emissions from transport (2) and industry, for example, Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (3) and the proposal for a Council directive on limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain industrial activities (4). The Commission is also preparing proposals for new air quality objectives for ozone and for an integrated strategy for the reduction of ozone precursors, as required by Council Directive 92/72/EEC on air pollution by ozone (5) and Council Directive 96/62/EC on ambient air quality assessment and management (6). It is expected that these proposals will be adopted by the Commission in 1998. The improvements in air quality which will be expected in coming years will clearly have benefits also for those at work. (1) OJ L 183, 29. 6. 1989. (2) Doc. COM(96) 248. (3) OJ L 257, 10. 10. 1996. (4) OJ C 99, 26. 3. 1997. (5) OJ L 297, 13. 10. 1992. (6) OJ L 296, 21. 11. 1996. (98/C 134/62) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2996/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC Directive 91/271/EEC (1) seeks to limit pollution of surface water by urban effluent in order to safeguard drinking water supplies. In the last few days, pollution has been detected in the drinking water supplies of Kastoria, constituting a public health hazard. Is there any evidence that the water was contaminated by urban effluent? What measures will the Commission take to enforce Community legislation? Does the system for collecting urban effluent in Kastoria fulfil the requirements of Directive 91/271/EEC? (1) OJ L 135, 30. 5. 1991, p. 40. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (12 November 1997) In response to the Court of Justice judgment of 28 March 1996 concerning Greece’s failure to comply with Article 170(1) of the EC Treaty, the Greek authorities notified the Commission of Ministerial Decision 6573/400 of 5 March 1997 as a national implementing measure incorporating into national law Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment. However, Greece has not identified sensitive areas, as it should have done before 31 December 1993. Under Article 5 of the Directive, before being discharged into sensitive areas, water must undergo more stringent treatment than the secondary treatment referred to in Article 4. Member States must ensure that appropriate treatment facilities are provided by 31 December 1998 for all discharges from urban areas with a population equivalent of more than 10 000, as is the case with the town of Kastoria. Furthermore, the programme for the implementation of the Directive (Article 17) has not yet been drawn up as the Ministerial Decision was vague on that subject (no precise date given in the text of the Decision, whilst the Directive stipulates 31 December 1993 as the final date). The Commission will contact the Greek authorities to request further details about the implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC in the Kastoria region