Clearance of forest land inappropriately ordered by the Greek Environment Ministry for the purposes of open-pit gold mining in the Khalkidhiki
16.10.2012
Question for written answer P-009365-12
to the Commission
Rule 117
Nikos Chrysogelos (Verts/ALE)
The Arnaia Forestry Department has recently signed a surface clearance protocol with Hellas Gold SA in respect of all forest land referred to in Decision 7633/2012 issued by the Secretary-General of the Macedonia-Thrace Decentralised Administration relating to 327.3 hectares of primeval forest land in Skouries and 85.7 hectares in Kokkinolakkas for the construction of a hazardous waste disposal facility. This decision is already being rapidly put into effect[1]. However, under paragraph 14 of Decision 7633/2012, special authorisation referred to in Forestry Law 998/79 and approval of a technical survey for all sub-projects are required. To date only the technical survey for the Skouries sub-project has been approved[2], relating solely and exclusively to work on the principal mine access road as well as the ramp and shaft. Approval of the technical surveys is subject to an authorised investment plan, which is also non-existent. The above requirements have been confirmed by the Director-General for Forestry and Rural Affairs of the Macedonia-Thrace Decentralised Administration, which has notified the Arnaia Forestry Department that ‘your department may authorise operations at the sites of each of the projects and directly related operations (for example, access roads, etc.) and issue the relevant surface clearance protocols only after submission of approved surveys for appendices 3, 4 and 5 of the “Skouries mining installations” sub-project[3].’ These surveys, however, are non-existent[4].
In view of this:
- 1.Does the Commission consider that the technical survey and investment plan approval procedures for surface clearance authorisation have been circumvented?
- 2.Does it agree that this is an infringement of Greek and European law? If so, what measures will it take?
- [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dwyauo-DYaM
- [2] Decision D8-A/F.7,49,13/2809/349/10. February 2012
- [3] “Details regarding forest clearance within the concession area”, Macedonia-Thrace Decentralised Administration, Forestry and Rural Affairs Directorate, Decision 21944, 28 September 2012.
- [4] Statement of 15 October 2011 by the Environment Minister concerning Hellas Gold SA.
OJ C 329 E, 13/11/2013