WRITTEN QUESTION E-1832/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Six-month postponement of legal obligations for the Attika Operational Programme.
C 203 E/60 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (24 November 1999) In December 1996, the Commission published a communication (1) with a view to contributing to an investigation of existing and future strategies to combat tobacco consumption across the EU and in the individual Member States in order to reduce the impact of tobacco on public health in Europe. In September 1999, the Commission published a report (2) on action taken by the Commission at Community level since the publication of its communication in 1996. The action taken by the Commission to finance projects to combat tobacco consumption can be divided into two general parts: 1. Under Decision No 646/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 March 1996 adopting an action plan to combat cancer within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996 to 2000) (3), which relates to the third action plan to combat cancer, the Commission is subsidising, first and foremost, two major prevention networks: the first, which is of a general nature, is the European Network for Smoking Prevention (4); the second, which is targeted at young people, is the European Network on Young People and Tobacco (5). These two networks coordinate prevention programmes at European level. In 1998, € 2 million worth of subsidies were provided, which will rise to over € 3 million in 1999. The entire programme will have a budget of € 14 million in 1999. 2. A Community fund for tobacco research was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco (6), most recently amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98 (7). This fund is used by the Commission to finance, among other things, projects concerning the health risk posed by tobacco consumption. The projects which receive support are largely targeted at young people. This fund, which was financed by a deduction of 1 % from the producersí premium, was doubled at the beginning of the 1999 harvest. As far as the advertising of tobacco products is concerned, it should be pointed out that television advertising is prohibited by Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (8). In addition, the other forms of advertising and sponsor- ship are governed by Directive 98/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products (9). (1) COM(96) 609 final. (2) COM(1999) 407 final. (3) OJ L 95, 16. 4. 1996. (4) RØseau EuropØen pour la PrØvention du Tabagisme ü European Network for Smoking Prevention (REPT-ENSP) ü rue de Pascale, 48, 1040 Brussels, Belgium. (5) RØseau EuropØen Jeunes et Tabac ü European Network on Young People and Tobacco (ENYPAT) ü National Public Health Institute (KTL), Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland. (6) OJ L 215, 30. 7. 1992. (7) OJ L 210, 28. 7. 1998. (8) OJ L 298, 17. 10. 1989. (9) OJ L 213, 30. 7. 1998. (2000/C 203 E/073) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1832/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (13 October 1999) Subject: Six-month postponement of legal obligations for the Attika Operational Programme For the Attika Operational Programme and for other programmes under the second Community Support Framework for Greece, 31. 12. 1999 has been set as the final deadline for meeting legal obligations. Given the exceptional conditions created by the catastrophic earthquake in Greece, there is a risk that the awarding of contracts, invitations to tender, competitions, etc. may not be able to be completed before this date. This will probably result in the loss of funding. 18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/61 Will the Commission grant a six-month postponement of the deadline for meeting legal obligations, owing to the exceptional circumstances caused by the eathquakes? Has the Greek Government submitted a request to this effect? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1999) The final date for national commitments (including any in connection with repair of damage caused by the Athens earthquake of 7 September 1999) under all operational programmes of the Community support framework (CSF) for Greece for the present programming period (1994-1999) is indeed 31 December 1999. The Commission has recently confirmed that this legal constraint is to be observed by all parties. Contracts not entered into by that date can be part-financed under the CSF for the next programming period (2000-2006). The Greek authorities have not asked for a six-month deferral of the final commitment date. Given the current take-up rate for the programmes of the present CSF there is no serious risk of a loss of appropriations. (2000/C 203 E/074) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (13 October 1999) Subject: Measures to combat unemployment following the earthquake in Athens Many undertakings in Athens have suffered considered losses owing to the earthquake, and as a result they are working below capacity or have stopped working altogether owing to the destruction of their buildings and equipment. The Attika Operational Programme has little ESF funding left and has taken up all the available funding from the European Regional Development Fund. However, there is still considerable funding in the national part of the second Community Support Framework for Greece. Does the Commission intend to allow part of the unused ESF funds to be used for social actions in areas affected by earthquakes? Does it intend to take other measures to help those affected by earthquakes such as funding the recruitment of unemployed earthquake victims or subsidising the maintenance of jobs in undertakings affected by the earthquake for a reasonable period of time to permit recovery? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1999) A number of special interventions for the relief of the victims of the earthquake have been agreed through the European social fund (ESF). These interventions will be co-funded through not yet committed ESF credits, which will be re-allocated within a small number of operational programmes (OP) of the Second Community support framework (CSF). After technical discussions between the Commission and the national authorities, it was agreed that a total of about € 45 million from 5 OPs of the Second CSF will be re-oriented to special actions aimed at supporting the unemployed in the afflicted areas through the provision of employment aids, as well as training and work experience in the form of integrated schemes; providing extra tutorial courses for students of the afflicted municipalities; and providing social and health services in the form of employment aid schemes for the relief of the victims of the earthquake. 12 350 unemployed from the afflicted zone are expected to benefit from these measures. In addition to the above, particular care has been taken and more credits allocated for the immediate improvement of the situation created by the earthquake in the psychiatric hospital of Attica (repairs carried out on the building damaged by the earthquake and relocation of patients)