# CE2004088EN.01029301.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/293 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/293

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(2004/C 88 E/0300)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3331/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 November 2002)

Subject:   Community Information Society Programme

Subject:

Can the Commission say what progress has been made in implementing the programme concerning the ‘Information Society’ in the light of reports in the Greek press that the ministries responsible for implementation are dragging their heels and are having difficulty issuing calls for tenders owing to a lack of coordination? Is it possible that these delays will result in a loss of funding for the 3rd Community Support Framework?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2003)

(6 March 2003)

The Operational Programme (OP) ‘Information Society’ was approved by the Commission Decision C(2001)551, on 14 March 2001. A table summarising the progress of this OP since the first actions were ‘activated’ (1) in July 2001, according to information (2) received from the Managing Authority of the programme is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. More recent information suggests that the public spending of the programme so far is EUR 73,8 million, or 3,3 % of the public spending foreseen by the programme.

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It can be concluded from this information that the OP ‘Information Society’ is one of the slower programmes to be implemented in Greece as far as expenditure figures are concerned. The main explanation is that, with the partial exception of e-government actions, this programme consists of new actions, which due to their technological nature require careful planning and thus take time to start.

In view of the limited success of previous attempts to promote the information society in Greece, a considerable effort is being made by the authorities in charge of the programme to explain what kind of projects would be funded and how these projects should be implemented. A significant part of the programme is linked to the progress in the liberalisation of the telecommunications market. Although the current communications services regulatory framework in Greece is in compliance with Community legislation and the new EU regulatory framework in this area is expected to be adopted by the Greek authorities in the first quarter of 2003, the full impact of the liberalisation is yet to be felt in the market. This has caused an additional delay in the implementation of the programme.

The Commission is currently examining the situation with the Greek authorities and in particular whether there is a risk to lose credits at the end of the year 2003 (‘n+2’ rule). At this moment in time, there does not seem to be a risk for 2003.

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(1)  According to the Greek authorities, the chain of the implementation of a programme is defined as follows: ‘Activation’ of a measure: Invitation to the Final Beneficiary (-ies) (= the implementing body, see definition in Regul. 1260/99) of the measure to submit their project proposal to the Managing Authority for evaluation.

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(2)  See also web site (www.infosoc.gr).

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