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Parliamentary question - E-005420/2014Parliamentary question
E-005420/2014

Violation of the Water Framework Directive by the transfer of hydroelectric units (the ‘Small PPC’) and the privatisation of water management

Question for written answer E-005420-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Kriton Arsenis (S&D)

The Greek Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has tabled a bill for breaking up the PPC and creating a new company, dubbed the ‘Small PPC’. The new company, which will be established as a 100% subsidiary of the PPC and be sold to individual buyers, will include the following hydroelectric plants: Platanovrisi, Thesavros, Agra, Edessaios and Pournari I and II.

Hydroelectric Power plants (HPPs) help meet energy needs. They are also water management centres, utilising the storage capacity of their reservoirs, and provide flood protection, meet water supply and irrigation needs, meet the needs of industry, secure environmental benefits and promote eco-tourism. Apart from energy production plants, HPPs comprise the accompanying dams and infrastructure for monitoring and managing water resources.

The transfer of HPPs will allow the new private owner of the ‘Small PPC’ not only to exploit the electricity production plants, but also to manage and exploit all the water resources in these areas, the surface and underground aquifers, and the rivers and lakes that supply the plants. The privatisation of the HPPs through the sale of the ‘Small PPC’ will directly affect local communities in a number of very important respects, notably the cost of irrigation for agricultural production, the water supply, water management in times of flooding, the management of littoral and riparian areas and the attendant habitats and the PPC’s compensatory obligations in respect of specific area.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

Are the failure to set up Water Management Bodies in specific regions and the privatisation of the management and exploitation of water in these regions through the transfer of HPPs a violation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC?

OJ C 413, 19/11/2014