Retention basins for controlling floods on the river Tagliamento in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region

19.12.2008

WRITTEN QUESTION E-7061/08
by Carlo Fatuzzo (PPE‑DE)
to the Commission

Petition No 477/2005, submitted by the lawyer Barbara Angie Bortolussi on behalf of 5 775 Italian signatories, called for action by the Community institutions on the issue of retention basins on the river Tagliamento between the provinces of Udine and Pordenone (Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region).

The petition in question refers to the construction by Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region of basins for containing floodwater, without any requisite environmental impact assessment having been carried out.

On 24 May 2006 the Committee on Petitions received an initial explanation on the matter from the Commission and informed its members that the current project was in the preliminary planning stage. It is therefore premature to conclude, with reference to the facts presented by the signatories, that the directive on EIA and habitats has been breached. With regard to the directive, which establishes a framework for Community action concerning water, the Commission is assessing the information supplied by the Italian authorities, also in the light of that provided by the signatories.

While the issues being dealt with are extremely important, the Community institutions are not taking any action or issuing any documents or opinions at present.

What is the Commission's judgment concerning the plan for flood containment and channelling to be carried out along the course of the Tagliamento, in the province of Pordenone, by constructing retention basins? Can it say whether there are breaches of European directives, particularly with regard to the requirements regarding environmental impact assessment?

OJ C 189, 13/07/2010