WRITTEN QUESTION No. 360/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Safety and health at work of workers with a fixed duration employment relationship
9. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 310/53 subsequently constituted to look at specific aspects of the creation and growth of high-tech firms, in order to identify critical issues and good practice and define possible action, in particular at Community level. The result of this exercise will be discussed at a European high-tech entrepreneurs forum in Vienna in November 1998. Furthermore, within the innovation programme (third activity of the fourth framework programme › Parliament and Council Decision No 1110/94/E (2)), the Commission has launched, in collaboration with the European Investment Fund, the I-TEA pilot project, which aims to attract venture capital towards the initial phases of innovative high-tech projects. I-TEA helps the managers of venture capital funds to acquire a lasting ability to assess and manage this kind of project. These efforts will be pursued within the fifth framework programme, notably through the implementation of the horizontal programme Innovation and Participation of SMEsí. Furthermore, in the Commission proposal concerning the 5th framework programme for research, technical development and demonstration activities (1998-2000) (3), special attention is given to SMEs. In this context, a specific RAT programme on Innovation and the participation of SMEsí is foreseen. Besides high-tech companies, special attention will be given to SMEs without adequate research capacities. Moreover, the Commission intends to attach major importance to high-tech SMEs in its forthcoming proposals for Regulations on the structural funds. (1) OJ L 6, 10. 1. 1997. (2) OJ L 126, 18. 5. 1994. (3) COM(98) 8 final. (98/C 310/66) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0360/98 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (24 February 1998) Subject: Safety and health at work of workers with a fixed duration employment relationship Under Council Directive 91/383/EEC (1) concerning the ásafety and health at work of workers with a fixed-duration employment relationship or a temporary employment relationship, Member States are required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this directive by 31 December 1992 at the latest. Can the Commission say if and when the relevant Greek authorities have complied with Directive 91/383/EEC and if they have not complied with it whether it intends to assume its responsibilities with a view to achieving results required by the above Directive? (1) OJ L 206, 29. 7. 1991, p. 19. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1998) The national measures transposing Directive 91/383/EC supplementing the measures to encourage improve- ments in the safety and health at work of workers with a fixed-duration employment relationship or a temporary employment relationship (1) were communicated to the Commission by the Greek authorities on 29 March 1996, 18 June 1996 and 14 January 1997. In compliance with Article 10(4) of Directive 91/383/EC the Commission is currently preparing the report on the implementation of this Directive, taking into account the national transposition measures and the report which the Member States must forward to the Commission every five years on the practical implementation of this Directive, setting out the points of view of workers and employers. (1) OJ L 206, 29. 7. 1991