Parliamentary question - P-2783/2008Parliamentary question
P-2783/2008

Expansion of Vienna Airport without EIA, constituting a violation of Directive 85/337/EEC

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2783/08
by Eva Lichtenberger (Verts/ALE)
to the Commission

Following up a complaint made by a citizen, it has become clear to the Commission that the Republic of Austria has reneged on its obligations under Directive 85/337/EEC on Environmental Impact Assessment as it currently stands by failing to carry out such an assessment for the expansion of Vienna-Schwechat Airport (see the Commission’s formal notification of 21 March 2007, K(2007)910 in infringement procedure No 2006/4959). Although Austria was not able to refute the allegations, no reasoned opinion was forthcoming and no proceedings were initiated. There were reports of ‘negotiations’ and an agreement between the Commission and the Republic of Austria on conducting an ‘ex-post EIA’. A draft paper produced by Flughafen Wien AG, published at www.viennaairport.at, was informally described to the complainants by the Commission official responsible as being commensurate with the section pertaining to the EU of the agreement on conducting an ex-post EIA. No explanation for the Austrian public, however, has been forthcoming from the Commission concerning the obligation to conduct the ex-post EIA. In fact, the Flughafen Wien AG draft paper suggests that the Austrian authorities have no plans to carry out a credible EIA and that the Commission is not implementing a control mechanism for the ex-post EIA.

How does the Commission intend to ensure that a legally binding environmental impact assessment complying with the provisions of the EIA Directive is carried out on the expansion, which opened the way to a 77.24 % increase in flight movements between 1995 and 2007, corresponding to a total of 111 077 flight movements, and also leading to measures to protect health and the environment?

OJ C 40, 18/02/2009