European Commission Ritt Bjerregaard Member of the Commission	Brussels, 5 June 1997

Thank you for your letter dated 10 April 1997 about the failure of the United Kingdom to comply with its obligation under Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, in so far as offshore oil and gas licensing is concerned, and other related matters.

As you may be aware, the Commission has received several complaints concerning the matter since 1994 and it has investigated all of them. Following this, the Commission has pointed out to the UK authorities that all offshore oil and gas activities are included in Annex II of the mentioned Directive. Consequently an assessment of an oil and gas project is necessary where the UK authorities consider that their characteristics so require.

The UK authorities subsequently agreed to this view in 1995, whereupon they have undertaken to lay down regulations which will specifically set out the requirements for an environmental impact assessment for offshore developments in accordance with the Directive. The Commission recently has been informed at a meeting with the UK authorities that the mentioned regulations are expected to be in force within a short delay.

The complaint related to this issue by Greenpeace UK, The Marine Conservation Society and The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, referred to in your letter, will be registered as a complaint by the Commission. The complainants in question will receive an acknowledgement of receipt as soon as the complaint is registered.

Yours sincerely

Ritt BJEREGAARD