WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3939/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Money laundering
22. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 196/39 (98/C 196/54) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3939/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (4 December 1997) Subject: Money laundering According to reports › which have now reached the Greek Parliament › a number of banks are engaging in the conversion of funds derived from criminal activities (money laundering), thereby infringing Directive 91/308/EEC (1) which has already been transposed into Greek legislation under Law 2331, (Official Gazette 173, 24. 8. 1995). 27 allegations of this nature must now be considered by the parliamentary committee for the monitoring of commercial practices and transactions. The banks themselves admit that they are unable to monitor transactions, proof of the difficulties in implementing Directive 91/308/EEC. In answer to my previous question (2) Mr Monti indicated on 13 May 1996 that áwere it (the Commission) to have any doubts as to its conformity (that of Greek legislation) with the directive it would follow the standard proceduresí. In view of the above: 1. Is the Commission aware of this situation and what view does it take of it? 2. What measures will the Commission take to ensure more effective enforcement of the directive? (1) OJ L 166, 28. 6. 1991, p. 77. (2) Written question E-0823/96, OJ C 280, 25. 9. 1996, p. 87. Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (3 February 1998) The Commission has no knowledge of the reports mentioned by the Honourable Member nor of the difficulties apparently being encountered by the banking sector. The Commission therefore intends to write to the Greek authorities to ask for full information on this matter. At the same time the Commission would request the Honourable Member himself to supply to the Commission any detailed information that is in his possession. (98/C 196/55) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3941/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (12 December 1997) Subject: Creation of a Greek section in the third European school Parentsí representatives from the Greek section of the European school (No 1) in Brussels (UCCLE) have been collecting signatures in support of their efforts to obtain an additional Greek section in the third European school being built in Brussels. The opening of a Greek section is considered to be particularly necessary since the existing Greek section of the European school in Brussels (No 1) is suffering from overcrowding and the splitting of classes with the result that many Greek children are now attending Belgian schools, which deprives them of the possibility of learning their own language properly. This is a particularly important issue and indicative of the sensitive approach required by a multicultural Europe towards the languages, cultures, and traditions of its various Member States. What is the official position of the Commission on this matter? Is it intended to open an additional Greek section in the European school currently under construction as is the case concerning pupils of other nationalities?