WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Measures to combat unemployment following the earthquake in Athens.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/61 Will the Commission grant a six-month postponement of the deadline for meeting legal obligations, owing to the exceptional circumstances caused by the eathquakes? Has the Greek Government submitted a request to this effect? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1999) The final date for national commitments (including any in connection with repair of damage caused by the Athens earthquake of 7 September 1999) under all operational programmes of the Community support framework (CSF) for Greece for the present programming period (1994-1999) is indeed 31 December 1999. The Commission has recently confirmed that this legal constraint is to be observed by all parties. Contracts not entered into by that date can be part-financed under the CSF for the next programming period (2000-2006). The Greek authorities have not asked for a six-month deferral of the final commitment date. Given the current take-up rate for the programmes of the present CSF there is no serious risk of a loss of appropriations. (2000/C 203 E/074) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (13 October 1999) Subject: Measures to combat unemployment following the earthquake in Athens Many undertakings in Athens have suffered considered losses owing to the earthquake, and as a result they are working below capacity or have stopped working altogether owing to the destruction of their buildings and equipment. The Attika Operational Programme has little ESF funding left and has taken up all the available funding from the European Regional Development Fund. However, there is still considerable funding in the national part of the second Community Support Framework for Greece. Does the Commission intend to allow part of the unused ESF funds to be used for social actions in areas affected by earthquakes? Does it intend to take other measures to help those affected by earthquakes such as funding the recruitment of unemployed earthquake victims or subsidising the maintenance of jobs in undertakings affected by the earthquake for a reasonable period of time to permit recovery? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1999) A number of special interventions for the relief of the victims of the earthquake have been agreed through the European social fund (ESF). These interventions will be co-funded through not yet committed ESF credits, which will be re-allocated within a small number of operational programmes (OP) of the Second Community support framework (CSF). After technical discussions between the Commission and the national authorities, it was agreed that a total of about € 45 million from 5 OPs of the Second CSF will be re-oriented to special actions aimed at supporting the unemployed in the afflicted areas through the provision of employment aids, as well as training and work experience in the form of integrated schemes; providing extra tutorial courses for students of the afflicted municipalities; and providing social and health services in the form of employment aid schemes for the relief of the victims of the earthquake. 12 350 unemployed from the afflicted zone are expected to benefit from these measures. In addition to the above, particular care has been taken and more credits allocated for the immediate improvement of the situation created by the earthquake in the psychiatric hospital of Attica (repairs carried out on the building damaged by the earthquake and relocation of patients)