WRITTEN QUESTION E-1288/02

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 May 2002)

Subject: Environmental impact of a military installation in the Parque de los Alcornocales (Cadiz, Spain)

The mist forest of Llanos del Juncal, located in the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales (Natural Park of Cork Oak Groves) in Cadiz province (Spain), which is included in the Natura 2000 network, is a humid mountain ecosystem considered unique in Mediterranean Europe. This woodland is home to an abundance of leafy vegetation including, in particular, gall-oaks, oak-trees proper, and southern rhododendrons. This protected area has, in recent years, been subjected to development pressures, following the construction of infrastructures which have brought in their wake grave consequences and threats for its natural habitats.

The Spanish Ministry of Defence intends to construct, in the mist forest of Llanos del Juncal, a sensor station for the capture of electromagnetic waves and signals. This project has been repudiated across the board by community associations, NGOs and political parties in Cadiz province. The specific characteristics of the vegetation of this habitat are of such an unusual and complex nature that it is included every year in the field programmes of the biology faculties of two European universities, Seville and Cambridge.

The destruction of a large part of this forest represents the first stage of an assault on the whole area.

Given that the project under attack may be in breach of the EU's environmental legislation, can the Commission state what action it intends to take with a view to ensuring compliance with the following Directives:

- 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1);

- 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds(2); and

- 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(3)?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1001/02 and E-1288/02given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 2002)

The Commission is aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member, having requested information on the planned centre while investigating a complaint (No 2000/4315) about plans to construct various types of infrastructure within the special protection area known as Los Alcornocales bird sanctuary.

The Spanish authorities replied that planning decisions were dictated by national defence considerations and the various alternative sites considered had been dismissed as offering worse conditions for electromagnetic wave detection and analysis quality.

They also pointed out that plans to construct an access road, likely to have an impact on the area, had been shelved.

As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will take the necessary action to ensure compliance with Community legislation in the case in point.