WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3266/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS Archaeological finds made during construction of the Athens underground
6. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 320/35 (1999/C 320/046) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3265/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (30 October 1998) Subject: Proceedings in respect of irregularities at the expense of the European Social Fund In his reply to my Question E-1007/96 (1) on irregularities at the expense of the European Social Fund, Commissioner Flynn stated, inter alia, that Greece had reported 44 cases of irregularities in relation to the ESF during the period 1991 to 1994. In particular he stressed that a) ‘17 of the reported cases relate to one promoter. Here, the Greek authorities reported to the Commission that they have initiated judicial proceedings’; and b) ‘Member States are required to inform the Commission about the amounts which have been recovered arising from irregularities previously reported. Such further information has not yet been communicated by Greece. ’ Will the Commission say whether the above case is now closed, what judgment was handed down and what is the identity of the promoter? Has Greece provided the information requested above and, if so, what amounts are involved in each case? Have the sums of money concerned been recovered by Greece? (1) OJ C 305, 15. 10. 1996, p. 36. Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (6 January 1999) The court proceedings relating to the 17 European social fund (ESF) cases reported by the Greek authorities are not terminated. As a result of these proceedings, the recovery procedures initiated by the Greek authorities are suspended. As indicated in reply to the Honourable Member’s Written Question E-1007/96, information communicated or acquired on the basis of Commission Regulation (EC) 1681/94 of 11 July 1994 concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the structural policies and the organisation of an information system in this field (1) is covered by professional confidentiality under the provisions of Article 10 of that Regulation. In particular, the names of legal persons may only be disclosed in order to prevent or prosecute an irregularity or to establish whether an irregularity has taken place. The Commission is therefore not in a position to communicate the name of the beneficiary concerned. The Commission would stress that the Greek authorities have not included four of the cases in the final payment applications of the operational programmes concerned, which means that the request for financial assistance in respect of these cases has been withdrawn, but have requested the Commission, on the basis of Article 24 of Regulation (EEC) 4253/88 (2), to suspend financial assistance until the termination of the legal procedures for 13 other cases. The Commission has already issued decisions suspending assistance in respect of two cases, whereas for the other 11 decisions are currently at the stage of preparation. The suspension of assistance involves ECU 1,18 million. (1) OJ L 178, 12. 7. 1994. (2) OJ L 374, 31. 12. 1988, as amended by Regulation (EEC) 2082/93, OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (1999/C 320/047) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3266/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (30 October 1998) Subject: Archaeological finds made during construction of the Athens underground The Athens underground project which is funded by the EU has been the largest archaeological site in Athens, and over 1000 important finds have come to light. However, questions have been raised about the fate of these finds which are reportedly being poorly housed