WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3213/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS Funding of National Employment Scheme in Greece
C 320/30 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 11. 1999 This project has been recognised by the Parliament and the Council as a project of common interest under the Trans-European energy networks, aimed at strengthening economic and social cohesion and increasing the reliability and security of the Community’s energy supplies by Decision No 1254/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 1996 (1). With regard to the contribution of the Director general of electricity supply for Northern Ireland (the regulator), it may be noted that the results of the initial economic appraisal were published in June 1995 and concluded that Northern Ireland Electricity, in proceeding with the project, would not be in breach of its economic purchasing obligation. The regulator commenced work on a second economic appraisal of the interconnector project in January 1998, in order to check whether that conclusion is still valid. The regulator is independent and it is up to him when and how he makes his conclusions public. The final decision on whether the interconnector project goes ahead does not lie only with the Commission. It will be taken in partnership with the Northern Ireland authorities, in the context of the SPD monitoring committee. The monitoring committee will assure itself that all relevant procedures have been complied with (e. g. that planning permission has been granted in both Scotland and Northern Ireland) and that all relevant factors are taken into account, among which the regulator’s views will be important. However, as stated above, this project cannot be judged purely in economic terms. While it is certainly hoped to provide economic benefits to the Northern Ireland consumer, other factors enter into the equation. (1) OJ L 161, 29. 6. 1996. (1999/C 320/040) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3213/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Funding of National Employment Scheme in Greece (26 October 1998) According to the Commission’s answer to my Written Question No E-1861/98 (1) concerning the progress of the ‘Education and Initial Vocational Training’ programme, proposals were made to cut the programme’s funding to ensure the full and timely use of European Social Fund resources. As the Commission is aware, approximately 50 % of the funding for measures under the National Employment Scheme in Greece is dependent on the above programme. How and with what funds, therefore, will the Greek National Employment Scheme be financed, given that it will be deprived of the bulk of its funding through the above cuts? (1) OJ C 13, 18. 1. 1999, p. 104. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (12 January 1999) At its meeting of 21 July 1998, the monitoring committee in charge of the Community support framework (CSF) for Greece examined its progress and made decisions in connection with its mid-term review and reprogramming. The operational programme ‘Education and initial training’ was modified (European social fund participation reduced by ECU 190 million, European regional development fund contribution increased by ECU 49 million, and available credits increased by 8 000 million drachma because of the devaluation of the drachma towards the ECU), mainly for reasons of poor financial performance up to that moment. The programme ‘Continuing training and employment promotion’ was reinforced. The extra funds transferred to this programme will be used to support actions linked with the functioning of new childcare institutions and the promotion of other active labour market measures of the national action plan for employment (NAP). These decisions respect the 1998 employment guidelines and the priorities of the Greek NAP. In addition, the Commission believes that they will facilitate the implementation of the CSF operational programmes and will improve their financial take-up, fourteen months before the end of the CSF