WRITTEN QUESTION E-0971/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Extraction and marketing of sand from the Aveiro estuary.
C 46 E/98 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 proper evaluation of the impact as well as a study of alternatives if the area concerned is indeed part of a site of Community importance proposed by Portugal in 1997 as a contribution to the Natura 2000 network in accordance with Article 4 of the Directive. A letter reminding the Portuguese authorities of these provisions has been sent. (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992. (2001/C 46 E/101) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0970/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Construction of an incinerator at Meia Serra (31 March 2000) Plans are afoot to construct an incinerator at Meia Serra in the parish of Camacha in the municipality of Santa Cruz, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, as part of a project to develop and restructure the Meia Serra solid urban waste treatment centre. The chosen site is very close to a built-up area and is located in an area which contains agricultural land and a number of springs; the project therefore poses an environmental and public health threat. Will the Commission say: 1. Has any Community funding already been authorised for the construction of the Meia Serra incinerator on the island of Madeira? 2. Has it already taken steps to ensure that all the necessary measures will be taken to protect the environment and the health of the local population? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (16 May 2000) By its decision of 22 November 1999, the Commission granted aid from the Cohesion Fund for the first phase of the project concerning the Unidade de Valorizacªo de Resíduos Sólidos da Ilha da Madeiraí (Madeira solid waste treatment centre). This project includes the construction of an incinerator to replace the obsolete plant currently operating at Meia Serra, which does not comply with Community environmental legislation. The decision to grant this aid includes specific clauses to ensure full compliance with the environmental standards associated with this type of infrastructure. The project in question was also the subject of an environmental impact assessment. (2001/C 46 E/102) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0971/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (31 March 2000) Subject: Extraction and marketing of sand from the Aveiro estuary The Aveiro estuary has recently been designated a special protection zone to be included in the NATURA 2000 Network by Legal Decree 384-B/99 of 23 September. However the extraction and marketing of huge quantities of sand from the estuary are continuing. 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/99 Under the pretext of ensuring navigability and preventing the silting-up of some areas, dredging is taking place in an uncontrolled fashion; given that the sand is not simply being moved but marketed, there is a risk of very serious consequences for the environmental equilibrium of the lagoon and the coastal strip. A project is also under way for the construction of a marina for more than 800 in the estuary in Barra in the parish of lhavo. In view of the above, will the Commission say: 1. Has any Community funding been made available for dredging work in the Aveiro estuary? 2. Has any request for funding been made for the construction of the marina referred to above? 3. In either case, has any provision been made to protect the environmental equilibrium of the lagoon and the coastal strip? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (16 May 2000) The Community has indeed part-financed a dredging project in the Ria de Aveiro from the Cohesion Fund (1). The Ria de Aveiro comprises a lagoon separated from the sea by a barrier of dunes. If it is not dredged, there is a danger that the lagoon will disappear as it silts up rapidly. The solution requires dredging to be carried out to open up and deepen the channels in the Ria. This assistance forms part of a series of measures to preserve and protect the Ria de Aveiro. The Cohesion Fund is contributing € 59,2 million towards the total cost of € 69,71 million for a project to collect and treat waste water (Simria). The Commission has insisted that the project to dredge the Ria should be accompanied by a series of measures to minimise the impact of the works and to monitor them. The project approved by the Commission provides for the dredged sand to be used to regenerate the coastal area (combating coastal erosion), to restore the marsh areas, which are in a poor state of preservation, and to construct an artificial island for bird life. A schedule restricting dredging to the period from October to March has also been drawn up to keep the impact on fauna and flora to a minimum. The Portuguese authorities have submitted no application for finance to construct a marina. (1) Decisions C(95) 3061 of 12 December 1995 and C(95) 3259 of 15 December 1995 amended by Decision C(96) 3876 of 5 December 1997 and merged in Decision C(98) 2902 of 2 October 1998. (2001/C 46 E/103) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0974/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Relations between the European Union and Iran (31 March 2000) The election results in the recent parliamentary elections in Iran have demonstrated the strong desire of the Iranian electorate that Iran should emerge from the international isolation in which it has been for years. However, the European Unionís response to the changes taking place in Iran has so far been limited. Will the Commission say whether it intends to take advantage of current favourable circumstances to improve relations with Iran, thus supporting the opening which Iranian society is seeking with the West?