WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3128/97 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Community funding for those affected by the sinking of the Aegean
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/91 Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1997) Under the Leonardo da Vinci programme, the Commission organises several types of placements and exchanges in the area of vocational training for young people across Europe. Since the programme began in 1995, more than 15 200 young workers have had placements in businesses or training bodies in the different participating countries, some 32 000 young people in initial training have done work placements, often in businesses, and almost 6 400 trainers have taken part in exchanges within the Community. In addition, since 1995 almost 22 600 students and new graduates have had placements in businesses in the different countries taking part in the programme. Furthermore, the Commission has initiated a wide-ranging debate with both the Member States and the organisations concerned on the lines of action identified in its Green Paper on the obstacles to transnational mobility for young people in training (1). It is now preparing to take a whole series of measures which, in accordance with the feedback received, should encourage mobility by the different target groups identified in the Green Paper, especially students, apprentices, voluntary workers and researchers. The first of these measures could be to prepare a draft Community instrument aimed at promoting transnational mobility through European pathways for work-linked training and apprenticeship. (1) Doc. COM(96) 462. (98/C 134/117) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3128/97 by Gerardo Ferna·ndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (13 October 1997) Subject: Community funding for those affected by the sinking of the Aegean On 3 December 1992 the Greek oil tanker Aegean, which was carrying 80 000 tonnes of crude oil, ran aground near Torre de He·rcules at Corunna (Spain), thus causing an environmental disaster which is still affecting 3 000 families and also fishermen, shellfish gatherers and aquaculture businesses. The Spanish Government has recently authorized the appropriate state finance body to provide funding of up to 12. 5 billion pesetas at a 3% interest rate in order to help those affected to overcome the effects of the disaster. Can the Commission say how much aid has been provided by the Community and how much it intends to make available to supplement the aid provided by the Spanish Government? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (10 November 1997) Early in 1993 the Commission introduced arrangements to provide partial compensation for losses suffered by shipowners and crews whose activities were temporarily disrupted due to contamination of their traditional fishing zone by an oil slick from a spill of approximately 80 000 tonnes following the running aground of the tanker Aegean Seaí. These compensation arrangements were confirmed in a Commission decision on concerted action to grant a tide-over allowance for fishermen and shipowners on the coast of La Coruña (Spain) who were forced to suspend their fishing activities in Galician waters as a result of the damage caused by the shipwreck. The Commission has paid out approximately ECU 1. 5 million. The Commission has no plans to grant any further compensation for fishermen and shipowners affected by the disruption of fishing caused by the accident in December 1992