WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3718/98 by Angela SIERRA GONZÁLEZ Sub- standard housing in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
21. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 370/9 Will the Commission say: 1. Is it aware of this project next to the park, and how does it view this matter? 2. Can it confirm whether environmental impact studies have been carried out? 3. Have any other measures been taken to prevent the justified fears of local citizens being realised? Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3680/98 and E-4096/98 given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1999) The development of phase one of the ‘Queen’s tower’ environmental park was funded under Article 10 of the European regional development fund (ERDF). The aim of the project was to create a park and environmental training centre in order to raise local awareness about the environment and environmental issues as well as achieving the regeneration of the area. The project received 5,7 million euro of ERDF support and was completed in 1994. Phase two of the project is being funded under the operational programme for the environment and is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. The granting of planning permission for an adjoining site is a matter for the relevant authorities and is not an issue in which the Commission could intervene. Concerning the environmental impact, in the present case it would also be a matter for the Greek authorities to decide if such a study is required. In respect of the future impacts of the prospective development on the operation of the park, the Commission will keep a watching brief. If the development were to jeopardise the Community investment in the park, the Commission would be able to review its grant and, ultimately, reclaim funding should this prove necessary. (1999/C 370/012) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3718/98 by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (11 December 1998) Subject: Sub-standard housing in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) Urban redevelopment work is currently under way in the town of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) to make way for the Las Canteras = El Confital Maritime Park, financed from Community funds through the Operative Local Environment Programme (Programa Operativo de Medio Ambiente Local = POMAL). To enable this work to go ahead, the sites on which many of those living on the margins of society have made their homes are being expropriated. However, no provision has been made for rehousing this group of people, whilst the financial compensation they receive as a result of the expropriation is scarcely adequate to make up for the loss of their current homes. Is the Commission aware of this situation? Does it believe that urban development programmes affecting groups like this with serious social difficulties should make the latter’s needs a priority, so as to avoid generating further social exclusion of the kind created by sub-standard housing? Supplementary answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1999) On the basis of information provided by the Spanish authorities responsible for the implementation of the operational programme for the local environment (POMAL), the Commission can give the following information further to its answer of 18 January 1999 (1)