WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1336/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Opposition to further development of nuclear power stations in Lithuania
C 13/28 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 1. 1999 (1999/C 13/038) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1336/98 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (29 April 1998) Subject: Opposition to further development of nuclear power stations in Lithuania Could the Commission say whether funding is being given to Lithuania to develop nuclear power and what funding, if any, is being given towards the exploration of other fuel types? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (2 June 1998) The Commission informs the Honourable Member that no Community funding is provided to Lithuania to develop nuclear power, nor is any Community funding being provided towards the exploration of other fuel types. The assistance being provided in the nuclear sector by the Community directly or through the European bank for reconstruction and development (EBRD) nuclear safety account is directed towards improving the safety of the existing nuclear power plant at Ignalina. (1999/C 13/039) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1345/98 by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL), Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) and Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 April 1998) Subject: Indications of unsuitable use of EU funds in relation to the Parque Lineal (Madrid, Spain) The Parque Lineal del Manzanares in Madrid has suffered since 1985 from the attitudes of the Madrid City Council: originally a vacant lot, it was earmarked for a projected aqua-park but is now no more than a huge rubbish-tip and supposed site for the aqua-park. It is an eyesore on the horizon of the surrounding quarters and is the source of offensive odours. The local community associations have endeavoured to promote the idea that this site should become a quasi- rural park which would serve as a focus for community-based economic activities, in a declining area with severe social problems. After great efforts, they managed to obtain a decision from the Madrid City Council to seek support from the Cohesion Fund for the rehabilitation of the area within the local integrated redevelopment plan. The local communities are now concerned over a proposal by the Regional Government of Madrid for the privatization of the park and its subdivision into lots, to be sold off to profit-making enterprises. They suspect that behind these speculative activities there lies a substantial EU investment, which may now be siphoned off for other purposes. Attempts are being made to strike a deal from which the neighbourhood and environmentalist organizations would be excluded. This is contrary to the EUís Green Paper on the urban environment and its provisions concerning the participation of the communities affected by proposals. 1. Is the Commission aware of this situation? 2. What action can the Commission take to ensure that the Spanish authorities apply the Community environmental legislation, and, in particular, Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment? 3. Can the Commission state whether this project is supported by EU structural interventions? Can the Commission state whether the Parque Lineal has received any money from the Structural Funds and, if so, for what purposes?