WRITTEN QUESTION E-1910/99 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Progress in implementing the Community's small and medium-sized enterprise initiative in Greece.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/87 To sum up, in relation to the total appropriation under the Structural Funds of € 167,65 million, the commitments of the three Structural Funds together amount to € 162,61 million, i. e. 97 %, and the payments to € 100,10 million, or 60 %. Of course, the figure for payments is the best indicator of the situation on the ground. (1) OJ C 289, 11. 10. 1999. (2000/C 203 E/108) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1910/99 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 October 1999) Subject: Progress in implementing the Communityís ásmall and medium-sized enterpriseí initiative in Greece Will the Commission say what progress has been made in implementing the Communityís ásmall and medium-sized enterpriseí initiative in Greece in terms of payment of scheduled appropriations? Does it consider that progress has been satisfactory and, if not, to what does it believe any delays are attributable? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1999) The delay in implementing the Communityís ásmall and medium-sized enterpriseí programme (SMEs) in Greece was produced by the need to coordinate the 125 measures in favour of SMEs incorporated in Greeceís various national and regional operational programmes and other Community Initiatives. According to the information sent to the Commission by the Greek authorities, rapid progress has been made since the launch of the above programme. The Greek authorities have been able to commit the total allocation, with 56 % of payments made so far. On the basis of expenditure actually incurred, the Commission believes that it will be able to commit its total financial contribution by the end of this year. (2000/C 203 E/109) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1911/99 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 October 1999) Subject: Progress in implementing the Communityís URBAN initiative in Greece Will the Commission say what progress has been made in implementing the Communityís URBAN initiative in Greece in terms of payment of scheduled appropriations? Does it consider that progress has been satisfactory and, if not, to what does it believe any delays are attributable? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1999) The delay in implementing the URBAN Community Initiative programme in Greece was produced by the need to set up a decentralised management structure, which entailed lengthy discussions and required management contracts to be signed between the Greek Ministry of Economic Affairs and the agencies in charge of implementing the programme in the six cities involved. Once this structure had been put into place rapid progress was made. The contracts have now been signed and all the projects are currently being implemented, while some have even been completed. Given the small scale of the projects, they should be completed by the end of the first half of 2000