WRITTEN QUESTION P-0585/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 February 2001)

Subject: Progress of land registry in Greece

The Directorate-General for Regional Policy has, in a letter to the relevant authorities, expressed concern at the anomalous nature of the continued funding of the national land registry project (for which ECU 172 million was earmarked under the 1994 budget, subsequently reduced by ECU 33,3 million as a result of changes to the Community Support Framework), since progress made does not justify such funding.

According to the letter 21 % of the projects were carried out, taking up 83 % of the programme's budget. Figures are also given comparing initial and current cost estimates.

However, the Commission's reply of 3 December 1997 to my Written Question No E-3332/97(1) and to those of other Members was predominantly reassuring, indicating that there were no more obstacles to prevent the appropriations from being taken up within the time limit laid down in the CSF.

The Commission:

1. Does it consider that the provisions of Article 24(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88(2) apply in this case? Has there been a significant change affecting the conditions or nature of the operation for which the Commission's approval has not been sort?

2. What appropriations are envisaged for the continuation of land registry operation under the third CSF? What measures and what funding levels will the Community agree to?

(1) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998, p. 88.

(2) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2001)

By its letter of 19 January 2001 to the Greek authorities, the Commission initiated the procedure laid down in Article 24 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments(1). The measures in question have been part-financed to date under subprogramme No 5 national land registry of the environment operational programme for the 1994-1999 programming period. This subprogramme represents a Community contribution of 104 025 million.

The Article 24 procedure, which has just begun, consists of several stages. The Commission has received the Greek authorities' reply to its letter referred to above and is considering it carefully in order to decide what action to take.

The Commission has indeed noted, in particular on the basis of the data transmitted to it in December 2000, that there seem to have been delays and weaknesses in implementing the project. There have been major amendments to the contracts for land registry studies, which have pushed up the cost, and there are no commitments on a schedule or specific results, which creates uncertainty about completion of the project.

For the 2000-2006 programming period the sum proposed for the national land registry under the Community support framework is 164.1 million. The Commission considers that it would be premature to launch the second phase of this project until the Article 24 procedure concerning the previous period has been completed. It is essential to draw conclusions from previous experience before committing Community funds to continuing this project.

The Commission has re-examined its answers to Written Questions E-3332/97 by the Honourable Member(2), P-3617/97 by Mr Hatzidakis(4) and E-4155/97 by Mr Hatzidakis(3) concerning the land registry in Greece and finds no contradiction with its current position, since the answers given in 1997 were based on the data available at the time.

The Commission would, however, clarify the first sentence of the second paragraph of its answer to Written Question E-4155/97. It should read: Work is currently underway on a total of 3,4 million stremata (40 % of the 8,5 million stremata covered by the first three land registry studies under the second Community support framework (CSF-II)).

(1) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988.

(2) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998.

(3) OJ C 223, 17.7.1998.

(4) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998.