WRITTEN QUESTION No. 140/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Fisheries operational programme in Greece
2. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 304/39 At this moment, the Commission has no intention to make proposals for additional taxes on tobacco products. However, Member States are free to subject tobacco products to other indirect taxes for specific purposes, provided that those taxes comply with the tax rules applicable for excise duty and VAT purposes as far as determination of the tax base, calculation of the tax, chargeability and monitoring of the tax are concerned. 3. Community actions to combat cancer are found within the Europe Against Cancerí programme, which includes initiatives to inform and educate the public on the dangers of smoking. A series of prevention projects have been financed by this programme, and details of such projects financed in 1996 and 1997 are sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat, together with details of information projects financed through the Community fund for research and information on tobacco. (1) COM(98)19 final. (2) OJ L 291, 6. 12. 1995. (3) OJ L 316, 31. 10. 1992. (98/C 304/53) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0140/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 February 1998) Subject: Fisheries operational programme in Greece The fisheries operational programme in Greece comprises four Sub-Programmes and a fifth for technical assistance. As there is a timetable for each of sub-programmes 1 to 4, will the Commission say: 1. what progress has been made with the sub-programmes and what measures have been taken in each sub-programme, and 2. whether there have been any delays in taking up funds and, if so, what the main reasons for the delays are? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998) The progress of the four sub-programmes of the fisheries programme in Greece, in terms of financial 1. commitments to measures by the Member State and payments (execution) is as follows: › fleet: financial commitments: 72% of the sub-programme payments: 36% (ditto) › aquaculture: financial commitments: 90. 6% of the sub-programme payment: 12. 6% (ditto) › processing or marketing: financial commitments: 64. 1% of the sub-programme payment: 11. 6% (ditto) › infrastructure: financial commitments: 63. 8% of the sub-programme payment: 3. 6% (ditto) 2. The above data shows that the sub-programme for infrastructure is seriously lagging behind the others in terms of utilisation of appropriations. The delays are mainly due to the time needed to carry out the investments (often two years) after the funds have been committed to the measure