Authorisation for the construction of a landfill site in the prefecture of Ioannina
15.10.2003
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3160/03
by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE)
to the Commission
Through its decision No 364/22.8.2003 the region of Epirus gave a favourable opinion on the implementation of the project to construct a landfill site in Geroplatanos-Phteri, in the municipality of Kalpakion, Ioannina prefecture. A supplementary opinion (No 3989/1.10.2003) places the landfill site in Kidonies, in the parish of Vassilikon, which falls within the municipality of Ano Pogoniou. The proposed project lacks public acceptance for the following reasons:
- the preliminary environmental assessment shows that from the hydrogeological point of view this site is the least favourable of all the sites considered (high soil permeability and possible link with the rivers Aoo and Kalama, as well as the closed basin of the Pamvotida lake);
- there is a fissure at the site, and the study stated that its dynamics could not be documented. It might be pointed out that the region is situated in a category I seismic zone, and not in a category II zone as stated in the study;
- the requisite opinion of the Ioannina forestry commission (2606/14.8.2003) clearly states that the study cannot be considered definitive, given that the preparatory documentation did not include the necessary topographical charts;
- the site is located a very short distance away from the Vikos-Aoos, a Natura 2000 area, and comprises protected woodland;
- the proposed site is 55 kilometres away from the area where the waste will be produced.
In this context, and bearing in mind that funding has been requested for this project from the Cohesion Fund, can the Commission say whether Directives 1999/31/EC[1] on the landfill of waste, 75/442/EEC[2] and 97/11/EC[3] have been complied with in the above case?
OJ C 78 E, 27/03/2004