WRITTEN QUESTION E-2327/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Subsidies to meet the cost of transporting fresh agricultural products for export from Greece.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/147 many of the Greek islands, action is being taken to preserve traditional wooden vessels (caïques) made with hand-held tools, in accordance with methods which, in many cases, were developed in the early Byzantine period and have now fallen into disuse. Given that museums in Greece are showing great interest in obtaining such vessels for their collections but are unable to meet the cost of purchase, conservation and display, can the Commission say: ü whether such expenditure is eligible for funding, ü if so, from which programmes? (1) OJ C 112, 17. 4. 1996, p. 31. Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) As the Honourable Member is aware, 1999 was the last year of the implementation of the Raphaºl programme, which, together with Kaleidoscope and Ariane, will be replaced in 2000 by the framework programme Culture 2000í. One of the objectives of the Culture 2000í programme will be to encourage European partnershipsí initiatives which will aim at the exchange of information, experiences and know-how so as to bring to the fore the best practices for the benefit of the preservation and enhancement of Europeís cultural heritage. In this context, best methods of conservation and display in the shipbuilding heritage sector could be considered as parts of projects that could be submitted under the Culture 2000í programme, provided of course that they meet its eligibility criteria. However, costs concerning the purchase of vessels and works for their preservation or restoration will not be covered by the programme. (2000/C 219 E/185) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2327/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (13 December 1999) Subject: Subsidies to meet the cost of transporting fresh agricultural products for export from Greece Exports of Greek fruit and vegetables to European markets are encountering major problems as a result of high transport costs (large distances, increase in costs charged by the owners of freezer vehicles during peak export periods). These problems have been aggravated by the war in Yugoslavia and the destruction of its road infrastructures, forcing exporters to use alternative routes which are both costly and time- consuming. According to the Greek Ministry of Transport the director-general of DG VI, Mr Lagras, is reported as saying at a meeting with the Greek Undersecretary for Agriculture, Mr Vrettos, on 6 July 1999, that he recognised the need to resolve this problem and requested further information from the Greek Govern- ment with a view to taking the necessary measures. Will the Commission take action to resolve the problem of increased transport costs which have to be met by Greek exporters of fruit and vegetables? Have the Greek authorities provided the necessary information for the adoption of suitable measures? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (21 December 1999) The Commission confirms that Greece has supplied all the technical information required to examine the problems facing Greek exporters. C 219 E/148 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 In view of the difficult budget situation prevailing in 2000, the Commission cannot propose to the Council that further measures of the type in force from 1991 until 1996, following the war in Yugoslavia, be taken to assist the transport sector. (2000/C 219 E/186) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2329/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Unauthorised building in the Parnassos National Park (13 December 1999) Environmental organisations are claiming that country houses have been built in the heart of the Parnassos National Park, which forms part of the Fokida regionís Natura 2000 network. There are also reports of a presidential decree abolishing the national park and dividing it into plots and legalised pasturage. Will the Commission say: 1. whether it is aware of the proposals to abolish or change the nature of the area forming part of the Natura 2000 network and 2. what action it intends to take to protect the above area, which is a national park and classified as a Natura 2000 zone Aí? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (21 December 1999) The Commission is not aware of any plans to modify or abolish the protection status of the Parnassos national park, which is included in a site proposed for the Natura 2000 network established according to Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1). As a matter of fact, in the past, within the framework of a LIFE-Nature project co-funded by the Commission and aiming to improve conservation and management conditions of Greek national parks, a management plan for the Parnassos national park was also prepared. This management plan, drawing on thorough knowledge acquired of the entire massif of Parnassos, provides for a modification of the boundaries of the national park involving a correction and extension of the existing core area (dating from 1938), as well as a clear definition and extension of the peripheral zone, only vaguely defined so far. Within the core area in particular, no human interventions such as those mentioned by the Honourable Member, are allowed. According to information provided by the Greek authorities, a Presidential decree has now been drafted, on the basis of the proposals of the management plan, and has been forwarded for adoption. (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992. (2000/C 219 E/187) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2330/99 by Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Private companies forwarding documents and parcels (13 December 1999) The forwarding of documents and parcels from one country to another using private despatching companies and couriers appears to in practice offer little guarantee of the safety of the consignment or its arrival with the intended recipient. The problem arises mainly from the fact that consignments are forwarded using an outside company which, in turn, may entrust the transport and the delivery thereof to yet other natural or legal persons, a process which offers no protection at all to the interests of the sender,