Discharge of waste water from La Línea de la Concepción into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters off Western Beach, Gibraltar

29.6.2017

Question for written answer E-004364-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Molly Scott Cato (Verts/ALE)

My constituents in Gibraltar remain concerned over the lack of action by the Spanish authorities to address the uncontrolled discharge of waste water from La Línea de la Concepción (Spain) into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters off Western Beach, Gibraltar. A petition concerning the presence of E. coli bacteria in waters off Western Beach was declared admissible by Parliament’s Committee on Petitions as early as June 2011, and the Commission has confirmed that it considers that such discharges are likely to have caused the microbiological pollution detected at Western Beach. I am pleased to note that an infringement procedure was opened against Spain in December 2016 as a result of its breach of Directive 91/271/EEC. However, in circumstances where Spain continues to breach this directive this could result in the closure of Western Beach to bathers for yet another summer season.

Can the Commission confirm what commitments and timeframes for compliance the Spanish Government has proposed in order to resolve the current state of affairs?

Can the Commission also provide an update with regard to the progress of the infringement proceedings?