WRITTEN QUESTION No. 348/99 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS Operational Programme on the modernisation of the public administration in Greece
12. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 325/109 Will the Commission say whether the above programme has been launched and, if so, when? What has been the take-up rate so far in respect of the operational programme on postal services and how have the funds set aside for the ELTA been used so far? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (31 March 1999) The ‘Postal services’ operational programme (OP) was launched in July 1998; on this date the special ELTA (Greek postal service) unit, set up to implement the projects planned as part of this OP, was fully in place and operational. Since then, the modernisation and training measures for the ELTA have got under way and satisfactory progress has been made in the preparation of specifications in respect of the calls for tender regarding nine projects and five strategic studies provided for under the OP. In the light of this, we can forecast that all the calls for tender will have been published before summer 1999 and the OP will be fully under way (as regards the conclusion of contracts and the Community funding) before the end of the year. This situation is summed up, incidentally, in the last decision made by the monitoring committee for this OP, in which it stated that in its meeting of 17 November 1998 the monitoring committee noted with satisfaction both the modernisation measures initiated by the ELTA, which had resulted in the releasing of funds for the OP, and the progress made by the special unit in its work. It expressed its confidence that the whole programme would be completed within the limited time remaining. The current take-up rate of the monies available under the Structural Funds is 25 %, i. e. €10,82 million of the €43,4 million earmarked for this OP have been committed. (1999/C 325/150) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0348/99 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (23 February 1999) Subject: Operational Programme on the modernisation of the public administration in Greece Will the Commission say what has been the take-up rate so far in respect of measures 2. 1, 2. 2, 2. 3 and 2. 4 of subprogramme 2 on the organisational and administrative modernisation and improvement of infrastructures and of measures 3. 1, 3. 2 and 3. 3 of subprogramme 3 on financial and social systems in the Operational Programme on the modernisation of the public administration in Greece? Will it also say which specific projects have been carried out under the above measures? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1999) The operational programme for modernisation of public administration has an overall budget of €305,4 million of which €120,9 million is from the European regional development fund (FEDER) and €47,7 million is from the European social fund (ESF). According to the information provided by the Greek authorities, so far payments for the programme as a whole are €134,4 million, an absorption rate of 44 %. Budgetary commitments of €230,8 million, 76 % of the total, have been made. With regard to the specific measures mentioned, a table indicating the financial situation is forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat General of the Parliament. With regard to the progress of the implementation of specific projects under the above measures, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the Greek ministry of public administration