Doc. 9855

9 July 2003

The potential adverse consequences of the oil pool D-6 operation

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Stankevič and others

1.       The Kravtsovskoye oil pool (D-6) is located in the Baltic Sea about 22km from the Curonian Spit, a narrow peninsular near the Kaliningrad district and Lithuanian coast. Half of the Curonian Spit is a part of the Lithuanian territory and another half belongs to the Russian Federation.

2.       In 2000, the Curonian Spit as a great treasure of cultural landscape and a unique and fragile creation of nature was added to in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. Even the slightest accident in operating D-6 can exert a disastrous effect on the environment, marine fauna and flora and people.

3.       The Russian Federation began prospecting for oil in the D-6 pool in 1983. In 1987, the on-going exploratory activities were stopped and suspended due to public protests.

4.       The Russian company "Lukoil" is going to start the operation of these oil wells, thereby violating environmental legislation in force and disregarding admonitions delivered by Lithuanian state institutions, NGOs and famous world organisations as well as scientific substantiations of potential catastrophic consequences.

5.       The future of the Curonian Spit has caused deep concern in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, in the Secretariat of the Helsinki Convention Commission as well as in scientific and non-governmental organisations.

6.       State institutions of the Russian Federation adopted a long-term passive attitude and did not provide the assessment of the oil pool D-6 operation environmental impact, thereby conveying an impression that Russia is deliberately playing for time in an attempt to divert public attention away from the issue.

7.       Striving to preserve the uniqueness of the Curonian Spit and ensure that the UNESCO regulations, the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and the Belts as well as Action Programme for Sustainable Development, Fisheries and Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, be observed, we call on the Assembly to give this alarming situation its attention and undertake all measures possible to disrupt the planned operation of the oil D-6 pool. The Assembly could do so by entitling certain members of the Assembly to investigate the issue and by adopting a resolution that would call a stop to the planned operation.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

Stankevič, Lithuania, LDR

Auken, Denmark, UEL

Bērzinš, Latvia, LDR

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Burbienė, Lithuania, SOC

Čekuolis, Lithuania, LDR

Druviete, Latvia, EPP/CD

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Labucka, Latvia, EPP/CD

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

Markowski, Poland, EPP/CD

McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC

Muižniece, Latvia, EPP/CD

Spindelegger, Austria, EPP/CD

Sysas, Lithuania, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group