WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2432/97 by Xaver MAYER to the Commission. Use of alternative raw materials for the production of yeast - reduction of pollution
C 82/74 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 3. 98 (98/C 82/124) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2425/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission (11 July 1997) Subject: EU funding of the Costa del Sol motorway from Ma·laga to Estepona (Spain) The Spanish authorities have planned the construction of a motorway through the densely populated Sitio de Calahonda. Some 18 000 people live in the area, 80% of whom are nationals of EU countries other than Spain. According to representatives of the residentsí association the building of the motorway is opposed particularly widely among the non-Spanish residents. In the debate in the Spanish media it has been claimed that the road will not be built, as planned, with private funds but that an application will be made for EU resources for the project. This application is said to be founded on the argument that foreign holiday residents in the area need better transport connections. However, a majority of residents do not consider that this argument is true. In the light of the above, how does the Commission propose to react to Spainís application for the funding of this road › should it in fact make such an application › in view of the fact that the non-Spanish majority of residents in the area nevertheless opposes its construction? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (15 September 1997) The Commission has not at this date received an application for financial assistance from the European regional development fund or the Cohesion fund or other Community financial instrument for the section of the Costa del Solí motorway in Spain which is referred to in the question, namely, that running through Calahonda. If such an application were to be received from the Spanish authorities, the Commission would consider it on its merits in the same way as any other request for assistance from these Funds. The eligibility of the project in question under the terms of the relevant regulations would be assessed, as well as its compliance with Community policies and legislation currently in force, in particular those concerning transport, public procurement and the environment. It may be noted that motorway projects fall within Annex I of Directive 85/337/EEC (1) and, as such, must be the subject of an environmental impact assessment (EIA). (1) OJ L 175 of 5. 7. 1985. (98/C 82/125) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2432/97 by Xaver Mayer (PPE) to the Commission (8 July 1997) Subject: Use of alternative raw materials for the production of yeast › reduction of pollution The production of yeast using molasses leaves residues which have to be disposed of. This is partly achieved by discharging the effluent into local waste water treatment plants. The heavy burden on the purification capacity of public plants gives rise to costs that are becoming a growing burden on yeast-producing enterprises. A study carried out by the Institute for the Organization of the Agricultural Market of the Federal Agricultural Research Establishment in Braunschweig states that the higher the sugar content of the raw material, the lower the effluent pollution and that, where purer raw materials are used, the biodegradability of the residues is improved. The study also concludes that the current EU agricultural market rules have an adverse effect on the competitive position of the yeast industry, since the molasses market is delinked from the world market by a threshold price and molasses is not eligible for export refunds