WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2440/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Infrastructure projects on the Aegean islands
29. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 118/77 Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1998) During the discussions held between the Commission and the Greek government before the decision of 29 July 1998 which re-authorised state aid to Olympic Airways, the issue of financial compensation for small scale and uneconomical connections between the mainland and the Greek islands was not raised. To date, the Commission has not been informed of any public service obligations in Greece under the provisions of Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes (1). One of the conditions laid down by the Commission for the approval of the aid is there should be no governmental interference in the management of Olympic Airways, which means that, in the absence of public service obligations on these routes, the company may serve the Greek islands as it sees fit in the light of commercial considerations. (1) OJ L 240, 24. 8. 1992. (1999/C 118/096) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2440/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Infrastructure projects on the Aegean islands (30 July 1998) The Second Community Support Framework for Greece makes provision, in sub-programmes 1 on tourist development which form part of the regional programmes, notably in respect of the islands of the northern and southern Aegean, for the funding of infrastructure projects in harbours and marinas on the islands. Given that these sub-programmes have been running since 1994. Will the Commission say: 1. What progress has been made in attaining the objective of the above sub-programmes? 2. What is the take-up rate for the funding of the sub-programmes? 3. In the event of delays in take-up, what are the main reasons for these delays for each sub-programme? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (5 October 1998) Subprogramme 1 of the ásouthern Aegeaní operational programme (OP) under the Community Support Framework (CSF) for Greece for the period 1994-1999 aims primarily at tourist development. Take-up amounted at the end of June 1998 to 30,2 % of the public funds envisaged. For most of the projects infrastructure work is in hand, which should enable the Greek authorities to proceed soon to the calls for tenders for the private sector, which has a major role in capital provision. The authorities consider that there should be no significant delays in the implementation of the subprogramme. Subprogramme 1 of the ánorthern Aegeaní OP under the CSF for Greece for the same period aims at the creation of infrastructures which will encourage tourist development. Take-up amounted at the end of July 1998 to 23,4 %. After a gestation period due primarily to difficulties of an administrative nature, most of the projects are currently being implemented