92001E0769

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0769/01

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: The destruction of Schinias marsh on the Attica peninsula

Can the Commission indicate whether the Greek government's plans to use the site of the battle of Marathon as the venue for the rowing and canoeing events for the forthcoming Olympic Games and the destruction which this will cause not only to the battle site but also to the adjoining Schinias marsh, which is home to a hundred and seventy six species of birds (including eagles, herons, peregrine falcons, red kites, pelicans and the glossy ibis) as well as four thousand species of insect and the baskia fish, found nowhere else in the world, is legal under European law?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2001)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member of the registration of a formal complaint related to the proposed construction of an Olympic canoeing and rowing centre in Schinias. In the framework of the investigation of the case, the Commission sent a letter to the Greek authorities

drawing attention to the value of the site for nature conservation and requesting information concerning any intended proposal of the site for the Natura 2000 network by virtue of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(1).

The Commission is currently investigating the case and the elements supplied by the Greek authorities in their reply, taking into account the conservation value of the site. A technical visit to the Schinias site is scheduled by the Commission in order to assess the compatibility of the planned Olympic project with the nature conservation of the site.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.