WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2818/98 by Carmen DÍEZ DE RIVERA ICAZA to the Commission. Storage reservoirs in the catchment areas of the pyrite zone (Huelva)
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/41 (1999/C 142/048) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2805/98 by John Cushnahan (PPE) to the Commission (17 September 1998) Subject: Auto-Oil programme Under the Auto-Oil proposals agreed in June 1998, leaded petrol will be prohibited in the EU from 1 January 2000, with the option of a derogation for Member States until 2005. Could the Commission inform me which Member States have requested a derogation and if Ireland is among those countries. Could the Commission also inform me of the criteria used to decide upon such derogations? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1998) Article 3, para 3 of the Directive 98/70/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 (1) relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC (2) provides that by way of derogation, a Member State may be allowed, upon a request to be submitted to the Commission no later than 31 August 1999, to continue to permit the marketing of leaded petrol, until at the latest 1 January 2005. The Member State has to demonstrate that the introduction of a ban would result in severe socio-economic problems or would not lead to overall environmental or health benefits because inter alia of the climatic situation in that Member State. So far, no Member State has submitted a request for such a derogation. (1) OJ L 350, 28. 12. 1998. (2) OJ L 74, 27. 3. 1993. (1999/C 142/049) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2818/98 by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission (17 September 1998) Subject: Storage reservoirs in the catchment areas of the pyrite zone (Huelva) In the wake of the disaster caused by the flood of toxic waste in Aznalcóllar (Spain), which has had extremely serious consequences for the Doñana area, does the Commission intend to urge the Spanish state to set up a second protection system for such reservoirs in other similar catchment areas in the European Union such as the pyrite zone in Huelva? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1998) The Commission will discuss the storage of pyrites at Huelva during the next ‘package’ meeting on environmental complaints and infringement procedures to be held in Madrid on 12-13 November 1998. The Commission will not fail to inform the Honourable Member of the outcome of that meeting