Megafarms in Castilla-La Mancha

EN E-001259/2018 E-001261/2018 Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the Commission (15.5.2018) The environmental impact assessment (EIA) Directive requires installations for the intensive rearing of poultry or pigs above certain thresholds to be subject to EIA. For other intensive livestock installations, Member States shall determine whether an EIA is needed. The Habitats Directive requires that any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on Natura 2000 shall be subject to an appropriate assessment and only be authorised if it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site(s) concerned. The Industrial Emissions Directive and the Nitrates Directive also have relevant provisions for these types of installations. The implementation and enforcement of the above provisions are primarily a responsibility of the Member States concerned. The Commission is not aware of the developments referred to by the Honourable Member. In the absence of detailed information about these developments, the Commission cannot assess if the above provisions are applicable and whether they have been fulfilled. Therefore, in the absence of evidence pointing to a breach of EU environmental legislation, the Commission does not intend to undertake action on this matter. The measures of the Common Agricultural Policy having an environmental aspect (inter alia cross-compliance, greening and agro-environment-climate measures) are applicable across most agricultural area in the EU, regardless, in general, of the size of the farms. The Commission is well aware of animal welfare issues related to intensive production farming systems. The EU has developed a substantial number of EU rules to ensure food safety and animal health and welfare. Member States are primarily responsible for their implementation.