Question for written answer E-001038/2020 to the Commission Rule 138 Rosa D' (NI), Laura Ferrara (NI), Piernicola Pedicini (NI)

Subject: Waste water treatment plant in

In September 2018, the Reggio Calabria Public Prosecutor's Office descended on 14 purification plants in the province as part of the ‘wastewatergate’ investigation into alleged operational irregularities from 2010/2011 up to the present 1 .

Chemical and bacteriological sampling at the Cirò Marina wastewater treatment plant revealed that one of the statutory threshold values had been exceeded 2 .

According to the Cosenza Public Prosecutor’s Office, half of the 100 plants exist only on paper 3 .

Infringement proceedings have accordingly been initiated following failure to bring Calabrian purification plant into line with the provisions of Directive 91/271/EEC. Wastewater treatment plant improvement under the ERDF Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 for Calabria is still under way. The following measures are being taken:

Ann. 1 cs – upgrading of purification plant and collection projects in the urban area 4 ;

Ann. 2 cz – Davoli and (CZ) (optimisation and completion of the joint treatment plan) headed by Municipal Council 5 ;

Ann. 1 cs – upgrading of purification plant and collection projects in the municipality of Scalea 6 .

In view of this:

1. Can the Commission ascertain what progress has been made on projects funded under the ERDF Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 for Calabria?

2. Can it say whether Articles 5 and 6 of Directive 2004/35/CE regarding plant operation are being complied with?

1 https://www.corrieredellacalabria.it/regione/item/188891-depurazione-in-calabria-un-mare-di-criticita-e-di- inefficienze/ 2 https://calabria7.it/depurazione-sanzioni-a-gestori-impianto-ciro-marina/ 3 http://www.prefettura.it/FILES/allegatinews/1224/ComunicatoStampaCommissioneParlamentareCicloRifi uti.pdf 4 https://opencoesione.gov.it/it/progetti/1cl213918/ 5 https://opencoesione.gov.it/it/progetti/1cl213932/ 6 https://opencoesione.gov.it/it/progetti/1cl213919/

PE648.945v01-00