WRITTEN QUESTION E-0183/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Pollution of the ground water in various regions of Greece.
C 46 E/4 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 As a result of these factors the noise levels to which the public is subjected will be progressively reduced and public health will therefore improve, in accordance with the competence conferred on the Com- mission by Article 152 (ex Article 129) of the EC Treaty. (1) OJ L 344, 6. 12. 1986. (2) OJ L 137, 24. 5. 1986. (3) COM(94) 284 final. (4) COM(96) 540 final. (5) OJ C 219, 30. 7. 1999. (2001/C 46 E/005) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0100/00 by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Social security arrangements for sportsmen and women Can the Commission provide information regarding the social security arrangements introduced in the various European Union countries for the benefit of sportsmen and women who are regarded as amateurs but who nonetheless engage in sport at Olympic and/or some other high level? 1. What cover is provided during and after any sporting activity? 2. What are the entitlements in the event of temporary or permanent disablement? 3. Is there any relevant EU legislation? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (7 February 2000) The legislation applicable to amateur sportspersons is the same as that applicable to employed or self- employed persons, and their contributions are paid into the national social security systems in accordance with the laws of the Member States in which they are insured. For information on social protection systems in the Member States, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its MISSOC (Mutual Information System on Social Protection in the European Union) Report which can be found on the Europa website at the following address: http://europa. eu. int/comm/dg05/soc-prot/missoc98 Where amateur sportspersons move within the Member States their rights are coordinated by Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of 2 December 1996 amending and updating Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community, and Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (1), which also covers, among other things, the risk of disablement. (1) OJ L 28, 30. 1. 1997. (2001/C 46 E/006) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0183/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Pollution of the ground water in various regions of Greece (31 January 2000) According to recent Greece press reports, the ground water in a number of regions of Greece, and in particular in the plains of Thessaly, Ilia, Messinia and Thessaloniki, contains concentrations of nitrates far above the permitted limit. 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/5 Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the pollution of the ground water in the above regions, what the probable consequences of concentrations of nitrates above the permitted limit are and whether Greece has implemented Community Directive 91/676 (1) and adopted codes of sound agricultural practice and an action programme, as required by the Directive, to prevent the nitrification of the ground water? (1) OJ L 375, 31. 12. 1991, p. 1. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (24 March 2000) The Commission is aware of the pollution problems caused by agricultural nitrogen (intensive crop growing, livestock farming) in groundwater and certain lakes, dams and closed bays (eutrophication) in Greece. An excess of nitrates in groundwater can adversely affect childrensí health, when they are transformed into nitrites in well water or in the digestive system (infant cyanosis). Nitrites are also thought to be carcinogenic when they react with the digestive juices. Nitrates, when they pass from groundwater into surface waters and the sea, cause eutrophication (undesirable development of algae and plankton). Greece very belatedly (1997) transposed Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources and has just (1999) designated seven vulnerable zones where the groundwater is contaminated, while acknowledging that other zones should be designated. As yet, no official action programmes have been established for any of the designated zones. Since 1995 a very localised programme (30 000 hectares of cotton) to reduce nitrogenous fertilisation, approved by the Commission, has been operating in Thessaly under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environ- ment and the maintenance of the countryside (1). The results are promising, and this could inspire future action programmes in ánitrateí vulnerable zones. The Commission, noting that the national measures implementing Directive 91/676/EEC communicated by the Greek authorities did not conform to the Directive, decided to take the matter to the Court of Justice on 22 December 1999. The Commission emphasised Greeceís failure to establish good codes of agricultural practice, insufficient monitoring of the eutrophication of surface water and failure to establish action programmes for the designated vulnerable zones. It should also be noted that codes of good agricultural practice must be applied in both ánitrateí vulnerable zones and in zones covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (2). (1) OJ L 215, 30. 7. 1992. (2) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2001/C 46 E/007) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0194/00 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (4 February 2000) Subject: Community funds Vincenzo Apicella, Chief Prosecutor of the Italian Court of Auditors, announced on 17 January 2000 in his annual report that owing to delays, neglect and complex bureaucratic procedures, ITL 4,5 billion of European funds were not used in Italy in 1999