E-3871/03EN

Answer given by Mrs Wallström

on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2004)

According to official correspondence from the Spanish authorities, there is no linkage between the proposed Ebro transfer and the Júcar Vinalopó transfer. This means that no water from the Proposed Ebro transfer will be introduced into the Júcar river. The proposed Júcar-Vinalopó transfer is an independent project with the water for the transfer to be made available as a result of water savings resulting from improved irrigation systems. Nevertheless, this fact is independent from the proposed transfer of 315 Hm³ of water from the Ebro transfer to the Júcar river hydrological district.

With regard to the possible duplication of the transfer infrastructure, namely the Júcar Vinalopó canal and Tous-Villena conduction, which is a combination of different sections of canal, pressure pipeline and tunnels, the latter being part of the infrastructure linked to the proposed Ebro transfer, it would indeed appear to be the case that the two canals will be constructed in close proximity to each other. Nevertheless, the Júcar-Vinalopó transfer is at a higher level than the Tous-Villena conduction, which would not allow for the transfer from one conduction to another. In the area in which both conductions are equi-distant, the Tous-Villena one goes through a tunnel, which makes any connection even more unlikely. It should be stressed once more that the two transfers are completely independent from each other, without any plan to link them in the future.