Question écrite de
Mme Ska KELLER
-
Commission européenne
Subject: Ski area development in Pirin National Park
EU environmental legislation requires that strategic environmental and appropriate assessments should be carried out for any plan which is likely to have an effect on Natura 2000 sites and/or sets the framework for future development consent of projects listed in Annexes I and II to Directive 85/337/EEC. My previous question P-000278/2018 raised the issue that recent changes to the current management plan for Pirin National Park significantly expand the tourism zone of the park where new ski facilities can be developed without any environmental assessments having been carried out.
Was the Commission informed by the Bulgarian Government that the management plan for Pirin National Park does not directly concern the management of a Natura 2000 site, but is a specialised master plan which includes spatial zoning and the description of all allowable development projects?
What measures will the Commission take to guarantee that changes in the zoning of the management plan for Pirin National Park, allowing for the development of new ski areas, will be subject to strategic environmental and appropriate assessments, as required for this level of planning by EU Directives 92/43/EEC and 2001/42/EEC?
Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the Commission
(27 April 2018)
The management plan for Pirin National Park was adopted in 2004 and therefore is not related to Bulgaria’s Natura 2000 sites in Pirin, as they were designated only after the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union on 1 January 2007.
However, regardless of the nature and objective of the Pirin National Park management plan in question, when it comes to the Natura 2000 sites, the provisions of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive apply. Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a Natura 2000 site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to an appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site's conservation objectives. The competent authorities shall agree to a plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned and, if appropriate, after having obtained the opinion of the public.
In addition, environmental assessments under the Environmental Impact Assessment and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directives (1) are also obligatory for all activities falling under the scope of these directives.
The Commission is closely monitoring the case and it will take the necessary action to ensure compliance with the above requirements, if any breach is established.
⋅1∙ Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment , OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40‐48
Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, OJ L 197, 21.7.2001, p. 30‐37. | | ( | | )