WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3741/97 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. EU biodiversity strategy
C 174/112 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 6. 98 Given the above and in view of the fact that Rome City Council has already submitted the final project, which should be adopted on 4 November 1997, would the Commission not agree that: 1. Rome City Councilís behaviour constitutes a flagrant breach of Community law, which inter alia could jeopardize EIB funding for the project? 2. it should take further action vis-a‘-vis Rome City Council, not least in view of the lack of any response from the Italian authorities? (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (8 December 1997) With regard to compliance with Community law on whether a project covered by Annex II to Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1) is or is not required to undergo an environmental impact assessment, which probably covers the Castel SantíAngelo subway, referred to in this question, the Honourable Member is asked to refer to the answer given to his Written Question E-3410/97 (2). As regards the financing of the project by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Honourable Member is asked to refer to the answer given to his Written Question E-3409/97 (3). (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985. (2) OJ C 158, 25. 5. 1998, p. 104. (3) See page 54. (98/C 174/173) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3741/97 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (21 November 1997) Subject: EU biodiversity strategy Does the Commission have any plans to identify gaps in existing EU measures and policies to ensure biodiversity conservation? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (19 december 1997) As a party to the Convention on biological diversity, the Community has, pursuant to Article 6, the obligation to prepare a biodiversity strategy. Furthermore, the Council in its conclusions on 18 December 1995, took the view that with regard to matters within the field of its competence and in close cooperation with its Member States, the Community should prepare a Community strategy to identify gaps in the Community conservation policy, and to promote the integration of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into the policies of the Community, complementary to the strategies, programmes and plans of the Member States, in order to ensure the full implementation of this convention. Consequently, the Commission is finalizing a communication to the Council and to the Parliament on the Community biodiversity strategy. This strategy will identify gaps in existing Community measures and policies to ensure biodiversity conservation. The communication is foreseen to be transmitted to the Council and to the Parliament in early 1998