WRITTEN QUESTION No. 8/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Construction of hydroelectric plants in Arcadia
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/81 (98/C 223/100) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1998) Subject: Further training of primary school teachers who have graduated from teacher-training colleges The further training of primary school teachers in Greece is important for their professional status as it puts the qualifications of college-trained teachers on a par with those of their university-graduate colleagues. It is funded from Action 1. 3. a of the General and Technical Educationí subprogramme under the Education and Initial Vocational Trainingí programme. There are, however, problems in the implementation of the measure in terms of the small number of teachers who undergo the training, the travelling and expenses involved. 1. Since seminars are given at the end of teaching, could there not be more decentralized training centres to reduce the distance to be travelled; some participants have to travel more than 100 km? 2. Could financial compensation be provided for those undergoing training or those who have to travel long distances, particularly for unemployed college-trained teachers? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998) According to the structural funds regulations, the responsibility for the execution of the various actions belongs to the national authorities. Nevertheless, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that training seminars are decentralised to the degree that the universities, responsible implementing agencies for this action, consider necessary and feasible, taking into consideration the quality of the training offered. Although both the remuneration and the travel costs of the trainees are eligible expenditure according to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2084/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4255/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European social fund (1) only travel costs are covered by the programme in this action. The main reason for that is the high cost of the operation, resulting from the number of the trainees (about 16 000) and the hours of training (different categories according to their practical experience). (1) OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (98/C 223/101) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0008/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1998) Subject: Construction of hydroelectric plants in Arcadia The Ministries of Agriculture and Development have decided to give over an area of 1. 8 hectares along the River Lousio in Arcadia for the construction of two hydroelectric plants. Both the authorities and inhabitants of Arcadia fear for the imminent destruction of an environment of exceptional beauty, for the survival of a rare species of trout that lives in the waters of the river, the numerous monuments from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine eras in the region, the ruins of two sanctuaries from the 5th and 4th centuries B. C. and hydroelectric installations of the pre-industrial period. A recent decision by the Ministry of Culture designated the area an áintegral archaeological siteí while the EU has provided funds for an open-air water-power museum. Have environmental studies been carried out for this specific hydroelectric project which take account of the special historical and environmental significance of the area?