91998E0848

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0848/98

by Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Municipal solid waste in Formentera (Spain)

At Cap de Barbaria on the island of Formentera (Balearics, Spain), a municipal solid waste tip has been located on an escarpment between two streams. The tip is currently the object of legal proceedings brought by the environmental offences section of the High Court of the Balearics on grounds of delays in obtaining legal authorization for the site. In addition, local inhabitants are bringing administrative proceedings in an effort to expose the illegality of the installation and the serious environmental problem posed by its location and the way it is managed.

The problem is affecting the whole island. The tip is constantly burning, giving off dioxins which cause pollution to humans, animals and plants. In addition the Mediterranean is also being polluted. The site is not waterproofed and there is no system for the collection of leachate which, because of the location of the site on a slope leading down to the sea, all goes into the water. There is also the danger that an avalanche might occur in future, with the disastrous environmental effects that would entail.

Financial aid from the Community is vital in order to resolve the problem of municipal solid waste on this small island, although it is doubtful if this will involve retaining the existing installation, which is a source of pollution.

Given the possibility that the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Balearics may allocate funds obtained from the Community to this tip, will the Commission say:

1. whether it is aware of the existence of this installation?

2. if so, whether it is aware of the legal proceedings in progress?

3. whether it has allocated funds under any programme to finance the processing of municipal solid waste in Formentera?

4. if so, whether this aid is being used to maintain the existing installation?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 1998)

The Commission was not aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member. It will make the requisite contacts to gather full details of the matter and to ensure that all relevant Directives are being fully complied with.

Environmental interventions are funded under the Balearic 5b operational programme by the European Regional Development Fund (actions 2-5 in favour of rural centres). However, no such intervention has been recorded for Formentera, except for study appropriations shared by Formentera and Ibiza and earmarked for the production of plot plans (PTA 0.7 million, or ECU 4 250) and land use plans (PTA 1.3 million, or ECU 7 800). The Commission would also point out that the question posed by the Honourable Member has never been raised in the 5b monitoring committee.