WRITTEN QUESTION E-0112/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Diversion of a high voltage power line in the locality of Merza (Galicia).
C 225 E/220 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 (2000/C 225 E/252) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0112/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (27 January 2000) Subject: Diversion of a high voltage power line in the locality of Merza (Galicia) A 400 kv high voltage power line between Mesón del Viento in Galicia and the locality of Lindoso on the Portuguese border, which was included in an operational programme in Galicia for the period 1990-1993 and received funding under the ERDF, was diverted from the route approved by the Commission on the initiative of the publicly-owned company Red ElØctrica de Espaæa S. A. and following a decision by the Galician Government with the result that, counter to the project which was originally approved, it now passes through the locality of Merza, which has 800 inhabitants. The Galician Governmentís decision, taken in 1996, is also in breach of EU regulations on combating the harmful effects of non-ionising radiation, which recommend that such power lines should pass through corridors which have no permanent activity or dwellings and stipulate that prior impact assessments must be carried out and that, at all events, compensation and expropriation schemes must be set up. Moreover, an action under the Leader programme is currently underway in Merza, which has been seriously affected by the existence of an unauthorised high voltage power line. Even though they have been approached on many occasions, neither the Galician nor the central Spanish authorities have taken the necessary measures to remedy this situation. Can the Commission report on the action it will take to remedy all the infringements of EU regulations which have been committed in Merza, thus giving its inhabitants the satisfaction which they deserve? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (2 March 2000) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (2000/C 225 E/253) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0116/00 by Karl von Wogau (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Compensation claims from undertakings hit by lorry blockades Is the Commission aware that as a result of strikes in one European Union Member State, undertakings in other Member States are being prevented from realising their export potential, which can damage their economic prospects. What options are open to affected undertakings to lodge claims for compensation, and with whom? In the case under consideration, a sawmill in Germany regularly operates to the limits of its capacity. The undertaking was prevented by the latest lorry blockade between Germany and France from exporting to France. It consequently had to cut back on production, because its fully loaded lorries were left stranded at the border. Output from current production could not be loaded. Additional transport and storage capacity were exhausted. The lost business cannot be made good because the undertaking is working to the limits of its capacity. Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (16 February 2000) The Honourable Member has drawn the Commissionís attention to the serious economic impact on Community businesses of the border blockades imposed by French lorry drivers from 9 to 12 January 2000