WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2365/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Project in Stemnitsa (Arkadia) as part of the regional operational programme for the Peloponnese
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/11 Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (29 October 1998) The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that a specific derogation in the interest of public safety is included in Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the habitats directive) (1). According to Article 16, Member States are allowed in such a case to derogate from the provisions to protect animal species, including the brown bear. The Commission has as a priority checked the conformity of the Finnish hunting legislation, and it has invited Finland to revise its transposition in order to reach a full compliance with the habitats directive. The question of the number of hunting licences falls outside of the framework of this exercise and has thus not yet been assessed. The Commission is of the opinion that Finland has all the necessary discretion, according to the habitats directive, to allow the killing of bears to protect human life. (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992. (1999/C 142/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2365/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (27 July 1998) Subject: Project in Stemnitsa (Arkadia) as part of the regional operational programme for the Pelopon- nese The ROP for the Peloponnese includes a road improvement and development project in the municipality of Stemnitsa with a budget of DR 200 million. However, local residents have complained that the projected works will greatly detract from the traditional architectural character of the area, a view upheld by expert opinion. In view of the fact that Stemnista is a scheduled historical site, what steps will the Commission take, having considered the above allegations, to ensure that the works are carried out without detracting from the historical or traditional architectural character of the area? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (25 September 1998) The Commission can confirm that part-financing of the Stemnitsa road network has recently been included in the Regional Programme for the Peloponnese. This was decided by the Monitoring Committee for the Programme on the basis of a proposal from the Greek authorities and in view of the fact that the procedures for awarding public contracts and for assessing the environmental impact were followed correctly. (1999/C 142/014) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2369/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (27 July 1998) Subject: Outcome of the bilateral meeting between the Director-General for Fisheries at the Commission and the Canadian Deputy Minister for Fisheries Following the recent summit meeting between the EU and Canada held in Brussels on 14 May 1998, at which the Canadian authorities undertook to reconsider the extraterritorial aspects of the controversial Canadian fisheries bill C-27, a meeting was held in Brussels on 23 June 1998 between the Director- General for Fisheries at the Commission and the Canadian Deputy Minister for Fisheries. Can the Commission report on the outcome of that meeting and, in particular, on the progress made as regards reconsideration by the Canadian authorities of the extraterritorial aspects included in the above Canadian fisheries bill C-27?