Pollution crossing the border to Croatia from Bosnia and Herzegovina
9.9.2014
Question for written answer E-006701-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Davor Škrlec (Verts/ALE)
The Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution was signed in 1979; Croatia became a party on 8 November 1991. The aim of the Convention is to reduce air pollution around the world, including in Croatia.
For all this time, however, citizens of Slavonski Brod have not been protected from the pernicious effects of a refinery in nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina. The refinery, which is located in Bosanski Brod, is owned by Russian company Zarubezhneft. A monitoring station in Slavonski Brod has been measuring concentrations of the following pollutants: SO2, NO2, H2S, PM2,5, O3 and benzene. In the last two months, the monitoring station recorded extremely elevated concentrations of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) on 12 days.
Given that Bosnia and Herzegovina has not ratified the EU Association Agreement:
- 1.How does the Commission intend to solve this transboundary environmental problem in Croatia, an EU Member State?
- 2.Will the Commission consider having this Russian-owned refinery shut down, especially since sanctions are already in place?