WRITTEN QUESTION No. 280/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Exclusion of apple producers from Kastoria form aid
C 223/156 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 7. 98 (98/C 223/203) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0279/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (17 February 1998) Subject: Safety standards for workplaces in Greece Through Presidential Decree 305 of 29 August 1997 Greece adopted stringent safety standards for workplaces employing technical equipment, in compliance with Directive 92/57/EEC (1). However, it is reported that the Greek administration is interpreting the provisions of this directive in such a way that the directive will be circumvented and not implemented in the sensitive area of hospitals. Will the Commission give its official views on this matter, and say whether the provisions of the directive in question apply fully in the case of private and public projects? (1) OJ L 245, 26. 8. 1992, p. 6. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998) The Commission does not have any knowledge of improper application of Directive 92/57/EEC on the implementation of minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites in the hospital sector in Greece. As stated in Article 2(1) of the framework Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (1), the Directive áshall apply to all sectors of activity, both public and private (industrial, agricultural, commercial, administrative, service, educational, cultural, leisure, etc. )í. Directive 92/57/EEC, to which the Honourable Member refers, is the eighth individual Directive pursuant to the framework Directive. It is confirmed, in Article 1(3) of Directive 92/57/EEC, that the provisions of the framework Directive are fully applicable to temporary or mobile construction sites. There is, therefore, no doubt that Directive 92/57/EEC applies to temporary or mobile construction sites in both the private and public sectors, particularly as regards building or civil engineering works of the type referred to in Annex I of Directive 92/57/EEC which are carried out at hospitals. (1) OJ L 183, 29. 6. 1989. (98/C 223/204) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0280/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (17 February 1998) Subject: Exclusion of apple producers from Kastoria form aid Scores of apple producers in the Prefecture of Kastoria in Greece (whose production of 700 tonnes was completely destroyed by the frost in April 1997) have been excluded from any compensation or aid on the grounds that their áfamily incomeí exceeds 50% of their agricultural income, as the relevant circular by the Greek Ministry of Agriculture states. Will the Commission say whether this view is in keeping with Community legislation on this matter, and more specifically, with Regulation 950/97 (1) of 20 May 1997, since a decision not to provide aid to the apple growers of this region will mean total financial ruin for them? (1) OJ L 142, 2. 6. 1997, p. 1