91997E3962

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3962/97 by Edith Müller (V) to the Commission (5 December 1997)

Subject: Plans to build a golf course in Cologne-Porz-Zündorf

In connection with the plans to build a golf course in Cologne-Porz-Zündorf, a complaint has been lodged with the Commission under No 97/4826SG(97)A/17838.

1. What is the present position with regard to consideration of this complaint?

2. Does the Commission share the views expressed by the complainants?

3. If so, what measures will the Commission take?

4. Have opinions been delivered by the authorities of North-Rhine Westphalia or the city of Cologne, and if so, what is the tenor of those opinions?

5. Is the Commission aware of any comparable cases and what action was taken on them?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (14 January 1998)

1. to 4. The Commission, as the Honourable Member states, has been informed about the issue by a complaint. The information as provided for by the complainant has been assessed by the Commission. Given that this information was not sufficient to state an infringement at this stage, the Commission invited the complainant to put forward the still needed information. No reply has been received so far.

5. It is worth noting that the same issue has been put forward to the attention of the Commission by two other complainants which have also been invited to give further information on the case. Apart of this, the Commission is not aware of similar cases related to golf courses and their impact on Community law concerning nature conservation.