WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2398/97 by Carles-Alfred GASOLIBA I BÖHM to the Commission. Environmental damage in the Oliva- Pego marsh
16. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 117/17 (98/C 117/21) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2398/97 by Carles-Alfred Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm (ELDR) to the Commission Subject: Environmental damage in the Oliva-Pego marsh (10 July 1997) The Oliva-Pego marsh in the Valencia Region has suffered considerable damage in the last few weeks as a result of fires, ploughing and the drying up of the wetland. All this constitutes a serious environmental problem which is supposed to be solved by the execution of the project for a national park in the area. Is the Commission aware of the current situation concerning the project for the national park in the Oliva-Pego marsh? Can it supply information about the European aid requested by the Valencian authorities to finance the purchase of land from farmers? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (12 September 1997) The Commission is aware of what has been happening in the Pego-Oliva marshes, since conservation of this area is one of the objectives of the Life-Nature project Programa de acciones para la conservacio·n de humedales valencianos y creacio·n de a·reas de reserva para el samaruc (Valencia hispanica)’, the contract for which (B4-3200/92/15183 and B4-3200/95/525) was established in December 1992 between the Commission and the Government of Valencia. The Commission has asked the beneficiary to forward regular information on the action taken to ensure the conservation of this wetland area in the face of activity by certain farmers. The following measures have been taken: › lodging of a complaint by the Director of the reserve against the Mayor of Pego (alleged violation against natural resources and the environment, serious dereliction of duty, illegal possession); › order from the Consejer ·a de medio ambiente freezing all forms of activity in the marshes; › order from the competent judge prohibiting all activity in the marshes and asking the civil guard to monitor potential infringements; › action taken in defiance of this ban has been reported to the competent national court. In 1996 the Valencian authorities purchased, or took steps towards purchasing, 569 áanegadas’ (approximately 50 hectares) of the Pego-Oliva marshes for a total of PTA 111 million. Steps are being taken to purchase a similar surface area in 1997. (98/C 117/22) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2401/97 by Leen van der Waal (I-EDN) to the Commission (10 July 1997) Subject: Recognition of the Logos Bible Academy in Bulgaria According to reports in the May 1997 issue of Face to Face (published by Droits de l’Homme sans Frontie‘res’) the Logos Bible Academy is still not officially recognized by the Bulgarian Government, in spite of repeated attempts to obtain recognition. The Academy is supported by the main, officially recognized Protestant churches in Bulgaria, was certainly recognized by the Sofia courts in 1990 and provides academic training considered equivalent to that of the Faculty of Theology of St Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia. When religious legislation was adopted in 1993 the Logos Bible Academy was refused recognition, as a result of which the Academy has been facing all kinds of practical difficulties. 1. Can the Commission confirm these reports? To what extent is the refusal of official recognition to the Logos Bible Academy in contravention of the 2. principle of freedom of religion as laid down in the Bulgarian constitution and international treaties? Is the Commission prepared to request the Bulgarian authorities to grant official recognition to the Logos 3. Bible Academy as soon as possible?