Hellas Gold
25.2.2021
Question for written answer E-001135/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Petros Kokkalis (The Left), Dimitrios Papadimoulis (The Left), Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left), Alexis Georgoulis (The Left), Stelios Kouloglou (The Left), Elena Kountoura (The Left)
The Greek Government recently entered into a new investment agreement with Hellas Gold, a company with Canadian interests, amending its 17-year contract to operate the Cassandra Mines following the company’s failure to fulfil its obligations. The amended contract exempts the company from its obligation to construct and operate a metallurgical plant in Madem Lakkos, which was a key element of the original contract, and expands its activities in the area.
In view of the enormous environmental footprint of this investment in the region, can the Commission say:
- 1.Is the company required to carry out a new environmental impact assessment, in accordance with Directives 2014/52/EU, 92/43/EEC and 2010/75/EU, and apply for a new — rather than an amended — permit from the Greek authorities, given that the amending agreement deviates significantly from the original agreement?
- 2.What does the Commission consider to be the minimum period for a public consultation and for informing the public, in particular those concerned, about the new environmental impact assessment and, consequently, the approval of the environmental operating conditions, as provided for in the above-mentioned directives, given the adverse effects on the environment, living standards and health?
- 3.How does it intend to ensure that the company and the Greek authorities comply fully with all the obligations contained in EU legislation?