# CE2004078EN.01068001.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/680 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/680

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(2004/C 78 E/0724)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3998/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 December 2003)

Subject:   Use of CSF funds to finance an advertising campaign in Greece

Subject:

In Greece the government is unfortunately continuing to use Community Support Framework funds to promote its position through television and press advertising. The main purpose of this publicity is supposed to be to promote the CSF operational programmes, but in fact it forms part of the governing party's advertising campaign.

The advertisements by the Ministry of Health are a case in point: under the slogan ‘A New Era for Health’, the Ministry publicises the construction of new hospitals and the upgrading of certain services in the health sector. However, it presents these as government achievements, hardly mentioning the EU's contribution. At the end of the TV spot a tiny flag of the European Union appears next to the Greek flag for a fraction of a second, but no other reference or allusion is made to this. It should be pointed out that no mention is made either of the Operational Programme ‘Health and Welfare’ with whose funds these projects have been realised, or even of the CSF. Of course, this whole publicity campaign is being financed with CSF information campaign funds.

| 1. | How does the Commission intend to intervene with the Greek authorities to prevail upon them to change the configuration of this and other similar advertising campaigns (for Public Works, Employment, etc.) which blatantly violate the spirit of the structural fund regulation and do nothing to promote the CSF? |
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1.

How does the Commission intend to intervene with the Greek authorities to prevail upon them to change the configuration of this and other similar advertising campaigns (for Public Works, Employment, etc.) which blatantly violate the spirit of the structural fund regulation and do nothing to promote the CSF?

| 2. | Given that Greece has de facto entered the pre-election period, when does the Commission intend to intervene with the Greek authorities — as has occurred in the past — to suspend this type of publicity campaign which may serve to promote the government party in view of the forthcoming elections? |
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2.

Given that Greece has de facto entered the pre-election period, when does the Commission intend to intervene with the Greek authorities — as has occurred in the past — to suspend this type of publicity campaign which may serve to promote the government party in view of the forthcoming elections?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

(30 January 2004)

The Commission is attentive to the issues raised by the Honourable Member:

| (a) | As concerns publicity regarding the constructing of new hospitals, this was discussed in the margin of the Monitoring Committee meeting of the Greek Community Support Framework (CSF) III on the 17 December 2003. It was agreed that although the publicity campaign in question is funded exclusively through national sources, the Greek authorities will change the TV spot in order to mention the contribution of the EU to the construction of new hospitals. |
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(a)

As concerns publicity regarding the constructing of new hospitals, this was discussed in the margin of the Monitoring Committee meeting of the Greek Community Support Framework (CSF) III on the 17 December 2003. It was agreed that although the publicity campaign in question is funded exclusively through national sources, the Greek authorities will change the TV spot in order to mention the contribution of the EU to the construction of new hospitals.

| (b) | With regard to the period before the national elections, the Commission is informed that the national authorities issued instructions concerning Information and Publicity on the 8 January 2004. These are addressed to all ministries and other bodies involved in the management of Structural Funds. They reflect the agreement in Chapter 4.8, 3rd paragraph, of the CSF. |
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(b)

With regard to the period before the national elections, the Commission is informed that the national authorities issued instructions concerning Information and Publicity on the 8 January 2004. These are addressed to all ministries and other bodies involved in the management of Structural Funds. They reflect the agreement in Chapter 4.8, 3rd paragraph, of the CSF.

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