WRITTEN QUESTION E-0338/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Unemployment figures for Greece.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/131 The Commission is not aware of the existence of any private insurance schemes currently operating on the market and providing farmers with cover against the risks arising from veterinary diseases. However, as the Commission already indicated in the Report on the situation in the pigmeat sector in the European Union with a view to possible changes to structural support measuresí (1), it would welcome the creation of an insurance scheme for emergencies funded by farm producersí contributions. On the other hand, the financial support from the public authorities should be conditional upon the disease being notified without delay, and upon the provisions of Community legislation on the eradication of diseases ü including Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (2) ü being implemented effectively. (1) COM(98) 434 final. (2) OJ L 224, 18. 8. 1990. (2000/C 330 E/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0334/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council (14 February 2000) Subject: Special treatment of a Kurdish national imprisoned in Hamburg Ilhan Gelkouvan, a Kurdish national imprisoned in Hamburg, has for many days been on a hunger strike with the intention of starving himself to death, maintaining that, although his case has been tried by the courts and final judgment delivered, he is being excluded from the schedule applicable to other prisoners, being given different treatment and being held in solitary confinement. We have now learned that other prisoners in the EU Member States and in third countries have also commenced hunger strikes in sympathy. Is the Council aware of the special treatment being given to Ilhan Gelkouvan by the Hamburg prison 1. authorities? 2. What measures will it take to end this and ensure that the prisoner concerned is treated in accordance with the same criteria applicable to other prisoners, given the fact that he is seeking no more than his due? Reply (2 May 2000) The Council has no information on the treatment mentioned and has no competence to deal with the questions raised by the honourable Member of the European Parliament. (2000/C 330 E/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0338/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Unemployment figures for Greece (14 February 2000) Under the title EUROPE WEEKLY SELECTED STATISTICS No 1128í, Europeí of 20 December 1999 published information from the Eurostat News Release No 120/99 concerning unemployment figures in the European Union Member States, Japan and the USA. However, as we have repeatedly pointed out, these statistics do not include figures for unemployment in Greece. In a previous answer to my Written Question E-1448/97 (1), the Commission indicated that áas from 1998, the National Statistical Service of Greece is planning to implement a continuous labour force survey which will provide quarterly unemployment ratesí. C 330 E/132 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 In view of this, can the Commission say: 1. Why were the unemployment figures for Greece still missing? 2. Has Greece undertaken to provide accurate and reliable information concerning unemployment figures to the various European Union publications and services? 3. What action is it taking to ensure that prompt and reliable information concerning unemployment figures in Greece appears in its various publications? 4. Has funding been provided for services in Greece to record and publish unemployment figures and if so from which programmes? (1) OJ C 373, 9. 12. 1997, p. 133. Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission (29 March 2000) In application of Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 of 9 March 1998 on the organization of a labour force sample survey in the Community (1), the National statistical service of Greece carried out a continuous labour force survey (LFS) providing quarterly results. Community financial support for the transition to a continous LFS was provided in 1997, 1998 and 1999 to the National statistical service of Greece under the Greek action plan for statistics. Quarterly data of unemployment rates for Greece are now available for the four quarters of 1998. However, in order to obtain seasonally adjusted unemployment rates it is necessary to have quarterly data collected for at least a three year period before seasonally adjusted series can be published. In the meantime, annual data on unemployment rates available up to 1998 from the labour force survey are published in the joint employment report 1999 adopted by the Council on 29 November 1999 (2). (1) OJ L 77, 14. 3. 1998. (2) http://ue. eu. int/newsroom/main. cfm?LANG=1. (2000/C 330 E/147) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0340/00 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Transportation of live animals I understand that Commission reports reveal that German, Dutch, Spanish, Belgian, French and Irish authorities are approving route plans for journeys to other Member States which, if scrutinised, indicate that Council Directive 91/628 (1) on requirements for unloading and resting of live animals will, or may, be breached during the journey. What action does the Commission intend to take to rectify this possible breach? (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, p. 17