91997E1375

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1375/97 by Gérard Deprez (PPE) and Viviane Reding (PPE) to the Commission (21 April 1997)

Subject: Protection of cross-border tourist sites - Bovigny military base in the commune of Gouvy

At the request of the Belgian Government, ONDRAF (the Belgian agency for radioactive waste and fissile materials) is currently carrying out a cartographical and geological survey to determine whether disused military bases located on Belgian territory might be used for the storage of low-level nuclear waste.

One of the sites which is currently being examined and might, therefore, be chosen is the Bovigny military base located in the commune of Gouvy, which adjoins the border with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the north Luxembourg nature reserve.

Would the Commission state whether:

1. a binding legal instrument enabling it to ensure that cross-border tourist sites are protected already exists?

2. if there is no such instrument, it intends to propose that one be adopted?

3. the provisions governing eligibility for the Leader programme or Objective 5b might be used to protect tourism at the above site?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (20 May 1997)

The Bovigny military base is one of the Belgian military sites examined in a study by the body responsible for the management of radioactive waste (Belgian agency for radioactive waste and fissile materials - ONDRAF) to determine whether the site could be used for the temporary storage of radioactive waste.

1. Selection of sites is the responsibility of the Member State. However, there is full legislation on nature protection (Directives 79/409/EEC on birds ((OJ L 103, 25.4.1979. )) and 92/43/EEC on habitats ((OJ L 206, 22.7.1992. ))) The Habitats Directive provides for the creation of a network of protected areas (Natura 2000). Provided they have been designated by Member States, these sites are protected under Article 6 of the Directive.

2. Directive 85/337/EEC ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )) does not require environmental impact assessment in respect of temporary storage installations. However, the supplementary Directive of 3 March 1997 (97/11/EC ((OJ L 73, 14.3.1997. ))) introduced compulsory assessment of installations for the storage of radioactive waste where the planned duration of storage exceeds 10 years. This Directive must be incorporated into national law by 14 March 1999 at the latest.

3. The Leader programme and Objective 5b provisions relating to rural development have no bearing on the selection of a site for the temporary storage of radioactive waste.