Question 28 October 2013 Sir Graham Watson (ALDE/LibDems)
Subject: Reports of pollution in the Bay of Gibraltar
Could the Commission state what specific complaints it has received or been made aware of since January 2011 regarding air and bathing water pollution in the Bay of Gibraltar (often referred to in Spain as the Bahía de Algeciras)?
Could the Commission state what action it has taken as a result of these complaints?
Answer 6 January 2014 Commissioner Potočnik
A complaint has been registered on pollution at the Western Beach (nr CHAP (2011)916). In addition, the Parliament accepted a petition regarding bathing water quality at the Western Beach (nr 258/2011).
Following the complaint and the petition, the Commission has requested information from Spain on the water pollution at the Western Beach. According to the information provided by the Spanish authorities in the context of the abovementioned investigation, the problems of the sewage systems that could influence the quality status of the beach concerned, including discharges as those mentioned by the Honourable Member, have been tackled.
In October 2013, the Commission requested updated information on these issues including data from this year’s bathing water season from Spain. No information has been received yet by the Commission.
Moreover, the Commission has asked the United Kingdom to provide information on other possible causes of the pollution at the beach concerned.
The Commission would also note that it has raised its concerns on the lack of a treatment system for waste water in Gibraltar in a letter of formal notice addressed to the United Kingdom, issued on 20/06/2013.
Once Spain and the United Kingdom have replied, the Commission will be in a position to decide on how to proceed.