WRITTEN QUESTION E-2083/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Protection of the Mulino Luiselli in Cisterna di Latina.
C 219 E/86 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 1. What Community directives on water intended for human consumption in Greece? immediate measures will the Commission take to safeguard public health and enforce 2. What information does the Commission have concerning this matter and what corrective or other measures has Greece taken to ensure that public health is protected and that healthy, clean water is available for consumption in the area concerned? 3. What is the position regarding the effective implementation of Directive 80/778/EEC in Greece and what information does the Commission have regarding the obligation to carry out regular checks on the quality of drinking water in Greece in accordance with Article 8 of the Directive concerned? 4. What stage has been reached in incorporating Directive 98/83/EC into Greek national law? (1) OJ L 229, 30. 8. 1980, p. 11. (2) OJ L 330, 5. 12. 1998, p. 32. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (13 December 1999) The Commission is grateful to the Honourable Member for bringing to its attention the specific incidence of high arsenic concentration in drinking water in the area of Halastra, Thessaloniki. The Commission has contacted, informally, the Greek authorities to seek their comments on the situation. If no satisfactory reply is received, ensuring that there is no danger for human health, the Commission will not hesitate to initiate the procedure provided in Article 226 (ex Article 169) EC Treaty. Should the Honourable Member already have in his possession additional information on this case, he would be very welcome to submit this to the Commission. The Greek authorities have submitted a report on drinking water quality in line with Council Directive 91/692/EEC of 23 December 1991 standardizing and rationalizing reports on the implementation of certain Directives relating to the environment (1). The Commission has requested private consultants to undertake a study on the implementation of the drinking water directive Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (2) in Greece. The report on this study has been submitted to the Commission, which is assessing the information in order to decide on the appropriate action to be taken. At this stage, as the assessment has not been completed, the Commission would reserve its position. Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 (3), the new drinking water directive, should be implemented in national legislation by 25 December 2000. To the Commissionís knowledge no Member State has implemented the Directive until now. (1) OJ L 377, 31. 12. 1991. (2) OJ L 229, 30. 8. 1980. (3) OJ L 330, 5. 12. 1998. (2000/C 219 E/103) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2083/99 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (12 November 1999) Subject: Protection of the Mulino Luisellií in Cisterna di Latina The building known as Mulino Luisellií, former convent of St Anthony the Abbot (S. Antonio Abate), being of historical, symbolic and religious significance and a fine example of industrial archaeology containing several frescoes, is a listed building under Law 1089/37. Despite this, the building has been included in the so-called áterritorial plansí by virtue of act no 8 of 10. 2. 1997 of the municipal council, for the purpose of building a shopping centre. 1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/87 If such a centre were to be built, the Mulino Luisellií would be seriously endangered, desecrated and radically transformed, in complete disregard of its history and its general and symbolic importance for the local community. In the light of the above: 1. 2. 3. should the Commission not check whether it is appropriate for the Mulino Luisellií to be included in the territorial plans as part of the aforementioned project? does it not consider the project to be potentially contrary to European directives on the protection and enhancement of national artistic and historical heritage? is any aid or funding available for the purchase of the Mulinoí by the government and for the building to be refurbished so that it may be used in a manner that is more compatible with its nature and its history? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1999) The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it has no competence to verify if the project concerning the Mulino Luisellií should be included in the so-called áterritorial plansí of the municipal council, as there are no Community directives for the protection and enhancement of the national artistic and historical heritage. Measures for the protection and preservation of cultural and architectural heritage are the exclusive responsibility of the national authorities. Funding within the Culture 2000í programme, when adopted, will not be destined to cover the purchase of historical monuments but only to encourage European co-operation in the field of culture and cultural heritage, as clearly stated in Article 151 (ex Article 128) of the EC Treaty. (2000/C 219 E/104) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2084/99 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (12 November 1999) Subject: Car park in Via Sacchi, Rome, and failure ofthe Lazio regional authorities to The regional authorities of Lazio have recently suspended construction work on a large underground car park in Via Sacchi, Rome, in an area which is particularly fragile both from a hydrogeological point of view and on account of the numerous archaeological sites it contains. The work on the car park, for which ten underground floors had been planned, was suspended by the regional environmental councillor despite the fact that the car park had already been built. The suspension was due to the absence of an adequate environmental impact assessment and the consequent numerous protests by residents, who had pointed out that the stability and safety of existing buildings were being undermined. In the light of this: 1. 2. 3. does the Commission not consider this to be the umpteenth demonstration of the fact that the Lazio regional authorities need to urgently adopt the Italian national regulations transposing Directive 85/337/EEC (1) and successive amendments to it? could the failure of the Lazio regional authorities to adopt the regulations, and hence to apply the above-mentioned directive, not be deemed to be an incomplete transposition of the directive by the Italian authorities? does the Commission not consider it would be useful to check that the above-mentioned project falls within the categories listed in Directive 85/337/EEC, for which an environmental impact assessment is compulsory? 4. what is the Commissionís view on this matter? (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40