91998E0363

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0363/98 by María Sornosa Martínez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (24 February 1998)

Subject: The Aguamarga salt-marshes in Alicante

In a written question to the Commission of 3 December 1997, I raised the issue of the major threat to the Aguamarga wetlands in Alicante posed by urban growth, from which these marshes have always suffered.

The Kelme group are currently drawing up plans for building a sports centre, an artificial lake and 500 houses in the Aguamarga marshlands.

The area is included on Valencian Community's Inventory of Wetlands, and in order for the plan to be approved, the General Building Plan would have to be amended and at least a quarter of the sites would have to be reclassified as low-density building land.

Ecological groups and the opposition parties are totally opposed to this project's going ahead, but the party in government is inclined to support it, and the scheme may become a reality.

Given that these salt-marshes are a natural area of major cultural, scientific and recreational value,

1. Can the Commission intervene in order to preserve them in their current state?

2. Can the Commission reconsider the questions I raised in my previous written question on this subject?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998)

This site has not been designated as a special protection area (SPA) for birds under Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds ((OJ L 103, 25.4.1979. )), nor has it been scientifically classified as an important area for bird conservation.

This site has not been proposed by Spain for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network, pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora ((OJ L 206, 22.7.1992. )). Nor is the Commission aware that it contains a priority species or type of natural habitat which, on the basis of relevant and reliable scientific information, would make it essential to the maintenance of this type of priority habitat or to the survival of this priority species. This site thus appears to be of greater natural interest to Spain than to the Community. Consequently, the Commission has no particular reason to intervene in place of the Spanish authorities.

The Commission's position has not changed since it answered the Honourable Member's written question No E-4039/97 ((OJ C 196, 22.6.1998, p. 66. )). In January 1998, Spain sent the Commission the list of sites proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network for the Mediterranean biogeographical region. The Aguamarga wetland is not included in that list.