WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2852/98 by Umberto BOSSI to the Commission. Preservation of natural habitats
15. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 297/33 (1999/C 297/044) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2852/98 by Umberto Bossi (TDI) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Preservation of natural habitats The Ravenna district and provincial authorities and the Emilia Romagna regional authority have signed an agreement on a programme for the implementation of the ‘Ravenna port area’ special programme involving the building of a marine passenger terminal and connecting roads. Under the preliminary plans, the connecting roads are to run through state-owned areas of pine forest, the Pialassa Baiona and the Pineta di San Vitale, in violation of numerous laws that protect the last unspoilt areas of the Adriatic. The Italian Constitutional Court has repeatedly reaffirmed the ‘primacy’ of landscape and environmental considerations and the special protective regulations in this area,. the construction work planned in the Pialassa Baiona (an area protected by the RAMSAR Convention and benefiting from Community funds under the LIFE programme) involves raising the level of the road system considerably and the installation of street lights,. the planned project would violate specific regulations designed to protect pine forests in nature reserves (the ASFD pine forest. Staggioni section and the Pineta di San Vitale),. in addition, some of the areas affected are regarded as ZSPs (zones of special protection) and others have been designated by the regional authorities as SCIs (sites of Community importance),. the project cannot be regarded as being intermodal since it encourages the use of road transport,. following repeated protests from citizens, the above authorities have drawn up a second agreement on the programme, which, however, does not replace the previous one. In view of the above, can the Commission say whether the implementation of the ‘intermodal’ project described above contravenes Directive 92/43 (1) or any other directive? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (27 October 1998) A complaint concerning the project mentioned by the Honourable Member has been recently registered. The case is currently being examined by the Commission. A request for information has been sent to the Italian authorities in order to obtain more detailed elements on the case mentioned. The Commission will take the appropriate steps in order to ensure the observance of Community law. (1999/C 297/045) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2853/98 by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Denmark and the Schengen agreement Can Denmark withdraw from the Schengen agreement and reintroduce checks on individuals which had to be abolished in the meantime?