WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2645/98 by Kenneth COLLINS to the Commission. Doñana
C 118/112 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 4. 1999 The Commission objects to the measures under Law No 2538/97 because they meet the criteria laid down in Article 92(1) of the Treaty without qualifying for any of the exemptions provided for Article 92(2) and (3). In particular, the Commission considers that the aid envisaged by the Greek government to settle the debts of cooperatives does not appear to meet the conditions in the Community guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty (1). (1) OJ C 283, 19. 9. 1997. (1999/C 118/138) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2645/98 by Kenneth Collins (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Doæana What information does the Commission have on the extent of damage to the proposed Natura 2000 site in the Doæana region of Spain, following the toxic chemical spill at Aznalcóllar? Can the Commission give any information on compensation payable for the loss of wildlife in the national park and when were landowners in the area, such as WWF, notified of such information? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (13 October 1998) According to the information supplied by Spain, the chemical spill at Aznalcollar contaminated 2 256 ha of the nature park and 98 ha of the national park. The polluted water flowed for two to three days along the Brazo de la Torreí, which makes up the eastern border of the national park, until it was definitively stopped by the construction of a dam upstream. This dam, located within the nature park, held back several million cubic metres of acidified water containing heavy metals. Work to decontaminate the water held back by the dam is reported to be nearing completion, allowing the water to be released into the Guadalquivir river. Work to clean up the mud laden with pollutants should begin immediately and be completed before the next rainy season. The Commission has received no information on any compensation which might be payable by the Spanish authorities for the damage caused to wildlife in the national park. However, damage within the national park seems to have been limited, since steps were swiftly taken to contain the polluted waters at the northern limits of the park. (1999/C 118/139) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/98 by Edward Newman (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Illegal immigration › asylum-seekers According to information published by the Migration News Sheet (July 1998) the European Union has offered to provide Turkey with, inter alia, financial assistance for the setting up of detention centres to hold áillegal immigrantsí. 1. Will the Commission confirm or deny that any such offer has been made to Turkey, regardless of whether Ankara has accepted or rejected the offer?