WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2026/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Psychiatric care in Greece
22. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 21/135 (98/C 21/253) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2018/97 by Iñ igo Me·ndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission (11 June 1997) Subject: Aid for the shipping sector The Commission has adopted new guidelines authorizing state aids in the shipping sector. Does the Commission intend to grant aid from European funds to counteract the decline in the European fleet? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (11 July 1997) On 6 May 1997, the Commission adopted revised guidelines for state aid in the maritime transport sector. The revised guidelines were envisaged in the Commission communication Towards a new maritime strategyí (1) which recommended such a review in order to help maintain and develop the Community’s shipping sector. The guidelines seek to regulate the manner in which aid is granted by the Member States. However, apart from a number of initiatives in the area of training (e. g. Leonardo) it is not foreseen that Community funding will be used to aid the maritime transport sector. (1) COM(96) 81 final. (98/C 21/254) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2026/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (5 June 1997) Subject: Psychiatric care in Greece Further to the Commissionís answer to my Written Question P-1038/97 (1): 1. The effect of suspending funding for the social exclusion programmes for people with mental health problems until the study for the completion of the psychiatric care reform is approved is that various centres are being dismantled, staff are unsettled and specialists are leaving. What measures will the Commission take to ensure that funding continues in this interim phase until the programmes covered by the new study are finalized and approved? 2. The measures implemented under Regulation 815/84 (2) fell within the terms of reference of the Ministry of Health, whereas the measures relating to the social exclusion of people with mental health problems are now a matter for the Ministry of Labour, the adverse consequences of which are well-known. What steps will the Commission take to ensure that the measures which are a continuation of Regulation 815/84 are the responsibility of the Ministry of Health? 3. Apart from ministry officials, do those taking part in the study of the psychiatric reforms include the people who are directly responsible for and familiar with the situation of psychiatric hospitals and, in particular, the biggest of these, the Attica Psychiatric Hospital? 4. Has provision been made for staff of the Attica Psychiatric Hospital to form part of the committee managing the programmes to combat the social exclusion of people with mental health problems? 5. What stage has been reached in the Greek study of the reform of psychiatric care? When is it expected to be approved and implemented? (1) OJ C 319, 18. 10. 1997, p. 219. (2) OJ L 88, 31. 3. 1984, p. 1