92000E1925

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1925/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Recommendation for a gas pipeline for the Balearic Islands

In her comments to the Ultima Hora daily newspaper on 24 May 2000, a minister in the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands stated that the European Union had recommended to the Government of the Balearic Islands that it opt for the gas pipeline as the most environmentally friendly means of supplying gas to the islands.

1. Has the European Union indeed recommended that the Government of the Balearic Islands use the gas pipeline to supply the islands with gas?

2. Which individuals or body have made the said recommendation?

3. Have any reports or studies led the European Union to take this view?

If so, will the Commission make the relevant reports or studies available?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2000)

The Commission has made no recommendation to the Government of the Balearic Islands regarding the most appropriate technical solution for bringing natural gas to the islands. As a rule, it falls to the Member States and operators concerned to choose among the options for implementing energy projects.

The Commission does favour the introduction of natural gas in regions which do not have it, and therefore favours the project to introduce it in the Balearic Islands, in an economic and environment-friendly manner. Accordingly, and in line with a request from the Spanish Government, the Commission will, when the Community guidelines on trans-European energy networks are next reviewed, propose that the project to introduce natural gas to the Balearic Islands be included in one or other of the projects of common interest. This will be without prejudice to whatever technical solution is eventually chosen, i.e. connection by gas pipeline or the construction of a liquid natural gas terminal.

To date the Commission has received no details of the project.