WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/99 by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Val del Cerfone E78-E45 road link.
C 330 E/34 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 (2000/C 330 E/036) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2644/99 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: URBAN programme (12 January 2000) The URBAN programme makes no provision for subsidising specific housing programmes, although housing is a social need of the first order. Is there any possibility, within the new URBAN programme, of establishing specific programmes on housing? What other alternative approaches could be taken to the problem of housing as a social issue? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (2 March 2000) Housing is not eligible for the Structural Funds. Housing programmes do not therefore qualify under the Urban Community initiative, which is financed by these Funds. However, in Annex I to its communication of 13 October 1999 laying down guidelines for projects under the new Urban Community initiative (1), the Commission acknowledges that housing can play in some instances a major role in any attempts to address urban problems with a view to better social cohesion. The Commission states that the programmes must be seen to have taken housing into account where it makes an important contribution to local regeneration. However, it is for the local, regional or national authorities, depending on the country, to bear the entire cost, without assistance from the Structural Funds. (1) COM(1999) 477 final. (2000/C 330 E/037) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/99 by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Val del Cerfone E78-E45 road link (12 January 2000) The Tuscan region road network department of the Italian National Roads Authority (ANAS) plans to build a four-lane road link between the E78 Grosseto-Fano highway and the E45 Cesena-Orte highway, between Le Ville (Monterchi, Arezzo) and Selci Lama (San Giustino, Perugia). During the preliminary planning phase (final version of study: 5 February 1999) an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was carried out which considered three possible routes, one through the Sovara valley and the other two in the Cerfone valley. The parameters taken into consideration in the environmental impact assessment were land use, the physical system, the natural system, flora and vegetation, the landscape and, lastly, noise, omitting the fauna, air, climate, material assets and cultural heritage factors and the interaction between them, and thus violating the provisions of Article 3 of Directive 85/337/ EEC (1) as amended by Directive 97/11/EC (2). This is particularly serious in view of the fact that one of the most prestigious works of art in world history, the Madonna del Parto by Piero della Francesca, is found in the Cerfone valley, and the whole area affected by the possible E78 route is characterised by important works of art and historical elements, especially connected with the work of art already mentioned. The municipalities involved in the project disagree over the choice of route. Does the Commission not consider that the environmental impact assessment should be revised to take into account material assets, cultural heritage and their interaction with other factors, as laid down by the Community directives? (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40. (2) OJ L 73, 14. 3. 1997, p. 5. 21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/35 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (22 February 2000) The Commission considers that the information given by the Honourable Member does not clearly show that all the factors claimed to be missing from the environmental impact assessment carried out in relation to the four lane road project concerned were identifiable in accordance with article 3 of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, and, therefore, relevant to the assessment. In addition, it is not possible to clearly identify the road project concerned. The Honourable Member indicates that it is supposed to link the highway no45 Cesena-Orte and the highway No 78 Grosseto-Fano. However, the second highway does not appear to exist and, on the basis of different details given by the Honourable Member, the project appears to be a road link between S. Giustino (Perugia) on the national road No 45 (S 45 Cesena-Orte) and Le Villeí (Arezzo) on the nterregional road No 73 (S 73, which connects the national road Siena-Bettolle S 326 to San Sepolcro). Not being aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member, the Commission will take the appropriate steps in order to gather detailed information about it and to ensure the observance of relevant Community law. (2000/C 330 E/038) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Noise pollution in via Peccioli/via Chiusi There is heavy train traffic in Rome near via Peccioli and via Chiusi (Rome ü Chiusi section ü between 9 and 10 km ü and the local train to Fiumicino), which causes high noise levels and, as a result, noise pollution in a densely populated area. Can the Commission answer the following: 1. Does it not consider that this contravenes Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on the assessment of effects on the environment? 2. Does it not think it advisable to ask the Italian authorities to install the sound barriers needed? 3. What are its general views on the subject? (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (13 March 2000) Directives on noise concern limit values for noise from equipment and cannot be considered relevant to the situation mentioned by the Honourable Member. Therefore, the Commission is not in a position to act. The situation is neither covered by Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment nor by Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (1), amending Directive 85/337/EEC. These directives cover only áprojectsí. Article 1 of both directives state clearly that the regime on environmental impact assessment applies to the assessment of the environmental effects of those projects which are likely to have significant effect on the environment. In particular, Article 1 of Directive 97/11/EC provides: Member States shall adopt all measures necessary to ensure that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature, size or location are made subject to a requirement for development consent and