(2004/C 78 E/0861)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3411/03

by Joan Valivé (ELDR) to the Commission

(18 November 2003)

Subject:   Granting subsidies to the NHP and the Ródano water transfer

On 1 November 2003, the Spanish Official Journal published the resolution setting out the environmental impact statement for the National Hydrological Plan's water transfers scheme authorised by Spanish Law 10/3001.

It is a fact that the transfer of water from the River Ebro to other catchment areas will change the river's own ecological conditions, and also those of the Ebro delta and the surrounding marine ecosystem.

Furthermore, the same Law provides for the possibility of incorporating transfers other than those envisaged in the scheme. The Catalan autonomous government carried out a study of an alternative transfer of water from the River Ródano to Catalunya's interior catchment areas, and forwarded this to the Spanish Government. Catalunya's interior catchment areas contain 4,5 million inhabitants, whose current water supply is already problematic, and could become very much more so in the near future.

The transfer of water from the Ródano would involve a flow of between 10 and 20 m3/s, which would have a very reduced impact, given the average flow at the river mouth, which is approximately 1 700 m3/s.

Does the Commission know that no assessment has been made of the environmental impact resulting from the future water transfer as provided for in the Ebro delta ‘Integral Plan’, nor has any consideration been given to the possibilities offered by transferring water from the Ródano, as in the proposal referred to above.

Will the Commission make the granting of any EU subsidies to the National Hydrological Plan scheme conditional on the carrying out of assessments of the environmental impact on the Ebro delta, the establishment of the minimum guaranteed ecological flows, and the assessment of the repercussion of the Ródano water transfer?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-3410/03 and E-3411/03

given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of the Spanish Government's Environmental Impact Statement in relation to the proposed Ebro transfer.

First of all the detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (30 volumes published in June 2003) does include some information on the probable environmental impact on the Ebro delta. However, the Commission is aware that the integrated plan for the protection of the delta has not yet been produced. It is this plan which will establish the management arrangements, including the flow regime, to protect the ecological and chemical status of the lower River Ebro and the Ebro delta.

In relation to the possibility of a transfer from the River Rhone, this option was addressed in the Strategic Environmental Assessment carried out by the Spanish authorities and published in January 2002.

Finally, with regard to use of Community funding mechanisms (structural funds or cohesion fund) all projects benefiting from Community financial support are required ‘inter alia’ to respect Community legislation and policies including environmental legislation and policies.