92000E3979

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3979/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: 'Western Landfill Utility' (Aterro sanitário do Oeste)

The Movement for Proper Information about the Western Landfill Utility (MPI), which has its headquarters in the Vilar local government building, in Cadaval (Portugal), has lodged a complaint with the European Commission's Directorate General for Regional Policy, about the procedure used to select this landfill site, located in the Torres Vedras groundwater recharge area, which could prove harmful to local groundwater resources.

As specialists have pointed out, and as I was able to establish on a recent visit to the site, there are alternatives in the vicinity which would not entail the same environmental, social and economic costs as this site, on which building work has already begun and whose boundary is next to a small residential area.

There has been no public debate or prior environmental impact assessment of the project. Moreover, the Cadaval Municipal Council voted against this site.

The Commission:

1. What is it's position on the complaint submitted by the Movement for Proper Information about the Western Landfill Utility?

2. What measures are to be taken to ensure that any Community funding will only be granted once it has been shown that the site selected for the Western Landfill Utility is the one which entails the lowest cost and the least harmful environmental and social impact?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2001)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answer to Written Question P-3498/00 from Mr Jorge Moreira da Silva(1).

The Commission can in fact add that the Portuguese authorities have recently replied to the Commission's letter. As an annex to their reply, the Portuguese authorities have sent a copy of all studies carried out on their initiative for the purpose of analysing any impact the project might have on various environmental resources.

Furthermore, the Commission has also had additional informal contacts with the complainants' representative and the Portuguese authorities in order to shed light on the project's implications, in particular as regards the protection of aquifers and human health.

Lastly, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it is currently examining all the information in its possession in order to take a decision on the case as soon as possible.

The Commission reserves the right to ask the national authorities for repayment of any co-funding in the event of non-compliance with Community law.

(1) OJ C 163 E, 6.6.2001, p. 141.