<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"At the end of April the Spanish press reported the Commission's decision to authorise, for economic reasons, three projects with a serious impact on the environment. The projects are the extension of the port of Rotterdam (Holland), the exploitation of a coalmining area in North Rhineland (Germany) and the building of a new railway line in Bothnia (Sweden). Apparently, in all three cases the Community authorities acknowledged that the projects would have """"""""harmful effects"""""""" on protected areas included in the Natura 2000 network.  The decision has aroused great concern among the population and ecologists because, although the deterioration of any natural area is a serious matter, the destruction, for economic reasons, of the Natura 2000 zones which the European Union itself decided to create is even more serious.  Bearing in mind that according to the regulations governing the Community funds projects which damage protected areas or the environment in general cannot receive aid.  Can the Commission say whether it can confirm or deny the information published about the three projects referred to above?  Whether these projects receive any kind of Community funding?  Whether it can guarantee that the principle of trying to find sustainable alternatives was observed appropriately in each of the cases mentioned?"
Analyze carefully the text and assign it to the most relevant policy area among those listed below. Do not explain your answer and return only a number.
Policy area numbers: 1 = Macroeconomics
2 = Civil Rights, Minority Issues and Civil Liberties
3 = Health
4 = Agriculture and Fisheries
5 = Labour, employment and pensions
6 = Education
7 = Environment
8 = Energy
9 = Immigration
10 = Transportation
12 = Law and Crime
13 = Social welfare
14 = Regional and Urban issues and Planning
15 = Banking, finance and domestic commerce issues
16 = Defence
17 = Space, science, technology, and communications issues
18 = Foreign trade
19 = International affairs and foreign aid
20 = Governance and government
21 = Public Lands, Water Management and Territorial Issues
23 = Culture and media
[/INST]. Answer = [7]. </s>
At the end of April the Spanish press reported the Commission's decision to authorise, for economic reasons, three projects with a serious impact on the environment. The projects are the extension of the port of Rotterdam (Holland), the exploitation of a coalmining area in North Rhineland (Germany) and the building of a new railway line in Bothnia (Sweden). Apparently, in all three cases the Community authorities acknowledged that the projects would have """"""""harmful effects"""""""" on protected areas included in the Natura 2000 network.  The decision has aroused great concern among the population and ecologists because, although the deterioration of any natural area is a serious matter, the destruction, for economic reasons, of the Natura 2000 zones which the European Union itself decided to create is even more serious.  Bearing in mind that according to the regulations governing the Community funds projects which damage protected areas or the environment in general cannot receive aid.  Can the Commission say whether it can confirm or deny the information published about the three projects referred to above?  Whether these projects receive any kind of Community funding?  Whether it can guarantee that the principle of trying to find sustainable alternatives was observed appropriately in each of the cases mentioned?