WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3867/98 by Joost LAGENDIJK Refusal by the Netherlands to implement the Nitrates Directive
11. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 289/99 (1999/C 289/130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3855/98 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (4 January 1999) Subject: Renewable energy Has the Commission made any progress in setting up a specialist Task Force on renewable energy which could develop clear and transparent guidelines for the connection, operation and commercial terms for small plants and give energy efficiency a prominent role in an integrated European energy and environmental strategy? Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (11 February 1999) Concerning renewable energy sources, as part of the effort towards implementation of the action plan to 2010 contained in the white paper on renewable energies (1), and in accordance with the Parliament’s and Council’s Resolutions following this document, the Commission has set up a ‘renewable energies working party’, composed of Member States’ representatives with a strategic responsibility for renewables. This group met once already in 1998 and reviewed the current situation as regards national programmes, actions, measures, and plans in this area. It will continue to meet at intervals to review and guide progress. In particular, its first meeting received a summary overview of national activities in favour of renewables, and this first debate has been followed up by a more detailed review based on written replies to a questionnaire addressed to Member States by the Commission. Moreover, as a result of Commission Decision 96/642/CE (2), an energy consultative committee was formed, which among other subjects also covers questions concerning energy efficiency. Efficiency issues will be specifically addressed when covering the energy/environment interface. In January 1999, an experts’ group meeting was held in Brussels to help prepare the energy efficiency action plan. This group, comprising Member States and Commission representatives is expected to play an important role in providing Member State policy opinion and technical input for the development of the action plan and its subsequent implementation. (1) COM(97) 599 final. (2) OJ L 292, 15. 11. 1996. (1999/C 289/131) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3867/98 by Jan Lagendijk (V) to the Commission (9 December 1998) Subject: Refusal by the Netherlands to implement the Nitrates Directive Is the Commission aware that the Netherlands Government decided in early December 1998 not to comply with the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) (1), adopted in 1991 under the Netherlands Presidency? It appears from a letter to the Lower House of the Netherlands Parliament that the Government does not intend to comply with the provisions of the Nitrates Directive by 2002. Even by 2008 the Government does not intend to comply with the requirements of the directive, since it wishes to work on the basis of 2,5 cows per hectare. To comply with the Nitrates Directive the Swedish government has set the maximum number of cows per hectare at 1,6 and in Denmark the government has set a limit of 1,7 cows per hectare for 2003. Is it true that a limit of this order is necessary in order to comply with the Nitrates Directive? Does not the Commission consider that intensive livestock rearing in the Netherlands will thus obtain an unfair advantage over foreign competitors? When does the Commission expect the infringement proceedings pursuant to Article 169 before the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg to be completed? When does the Commission think it will be able to begin infringement proceedings pursuant to Article 171 against the Netherlands Government for failure to implement correctly the Nitrates Directive which it adopted itself? When does the Commission