WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Funding of a training school for tourist couriers.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/109 2. Will the 619 serious shortcomings on the Syntagma-Sepolia and Syntagma-Ethniki Amina sections ü referred to in the report by the ATTIKI METRO consortium and published in the Eleftherotypia newspaper of 5 December 1999 ü be remedied and not prevent the opening of the network at the beginning of January as planned? 3. Does it not agree that, if the same set-up had been used as for the construction of the airport at Spata, i. e. a single contractor instead of a consortium as is the case with the underground rail system, self- financing and operation of the system by the constructor, the results in terms of the date of completion and the quality of the work would have been better? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (28 February 2000) The initial budget, 1. in the contract signed in 1991, was DRA 261 500 million (November 1991 prices). After adjustment to inflation, as provided for in the contract, this amounts to DRA 420 000 million at December 1999 prices. However the projectís total budget currently stands at DRA 530 000 million (December 1999 prices) ü for two reasons. The Greek Parliament in 1994 approved a 14,64 % increase to make certain improve- ments to the project, particularly regarding stations. A further 10 % increase (March 1998 prices) was adopted, as allowed for in the contract, to cover unforeseen geological difficulties and increased safety for city buildings. The 619 technical problems identified in November 1999 have been resolved, and the metro started 2. running on 28 January 2000. The differences between the two projects makes it impossible for the Commission to draw any such 3. conclusions. The information available to it, however, is that the Greek authorities are examining the possibility of other approaches, e. g. franchising agreements, for planned further extensions to the Athens Metro to be co-funded by the Community. (2000/C 303 E/106) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Funding of a training school for tourist couriers (18 January 2000) There is no school in Greece for training couriers for the tourist industry and the knowledge which those currently working as couriers possess is gained from their experience and in-house courses. Can the Commission answer the following: 1. Will it say whether it could provide joint funding to set up a post-secondary school to train couriers for the tourist industry? 2. For which in-house courses for training couriers in Greece did the Union provide funding from 1996 to 1999 and what were the sums involved? 3. How many people received training on those courses? 4. In view of the allegations that some of those who attended these courses were subsequently unable to work as couriers because it is prohibited to do so by their current profession, e. g. civil servants, can the Commission confirm that such people did not take part in the courses run between 1996 and 1999? C 303 E/110 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Supplementary answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (21 March 2000) To date, the Commission has not received a request for co-financing for the construction of a school for tourist couriers under the Community Support Framework for Greece for the 1994-1999 programming period. It should also be pointed out that it is the responsibility of the Member State to choose and propose projects for co-financing. Under the operational programme for Tourism and Cultureí of the 2nd Community support framework (CSF) for Greece, the European social fund (ESF) provided co-financing for the training of approximately 5 500 people in 480 training courses at a total cost of € 7,2 million. The training courses organised by certified training centres covered a number of subjects on the manage- ment and operation of tourist facilities in recreational, sports and cultural activities. According to information provided by the Greek authorities, the target groups for these courses were the unemployed and those already employed in the tourist sector but threatened with unemployment. (2000/C 303 E/107) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2786/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Collapse of the Attiki road bridge in Markopoulon (Attiki) (18 January 2000) Following the recent collapse of the Attiki road bridge which was under construction, as a result of which two workers were killed and ten injured, serious concerns have been expressed concerning the viability and public safety of such projects. In view of the fact that such projects ü or at least those funded by the European Union ü should be carried out with the greatest possible care, under strict supervision and transparency, it is imperative that the Commission launch an investigation into the accident and should not allow matters to remain unresolved. A number of serious questions have already been raised by the numerous experts seeking to elucidate the reasons for the accident and preventing future accidents on a similar or larger scale. Did the surveys take account of the nature of the terrain where the construction work was being 1. carried out? 2. Was a survey of the timber shuttering carried out as required and, if so, were its findings acted on? Following the earthquake of 7 September 1999, were the timber shuttering and construction 3. procedures in general reassessed? 4. Independently of the survey, were the scaffolding and attachments shown to be sufficiently strong? 5. Was the work properly supervised by the firm responsible? 6. What reasons for the accident were given by the firm responsible for supervising the project? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (28 February 2000) The Commission does not have the information requested under points 1 to 6 of the Honourable Memberís question. These are matters covered by the contractual relationship between the Greek state authorities, in particular the Ministry of Public Works, and the firms building the Stavros-Elefsina road under the current contract. The Commission has requested the Greek authorities to send it a copy of the final report by the commission of inquiry they set up to examine the causes of the accident. If that commissionís conclusions