EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/788

(2004/C 78 E/0839)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3196/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 October 2003)

Subject: Problems with construction activity, the protection of forests and building cooperatives in Greece

Over recent years in particular the situation in Greece regarding construction activity, the protection of forests and building cooperatives has become quite chaotic. The recent suicide (12 October 2003) of a public official in Athens focused public attention on the situation regarding the issuing of planning permission in a country where hundreds of thousands of unauthorised buildings have already been put up (according to statements by Mrs Vasso Papandreos the Minister responsible) and concerning the political pressure being brought to bear on Greek public servants.

In Greece there are a large number of building cooperatives with thousands of members who have for decades been paying annual (and additional) contributions (for example, the ‘I YGEIA SYN.PE’ medical cooperative in Saronida in Attica, founded in 1965 with 3090 members), without securing entitlement to building plots, despite the fact that many of these cooperatives are clearly situated outside forest areas. Members therefore are justifiably sceptical, while the Greek Government, which has ‘quite by chance’ suddenly remembered the existence of building cooperatives in the run-up to the Greek general elections, is also expressing concern regarding the political nature of this deadlock.

Furthermore, serious problems are arising in Greece regarding the new forestry bill and the quality of the thousands of unauthorised buildings which were put up rapidly and without planning permission or technical inspections to ensure that they are sufficiently stable. The owners of these unauthorised buildings have for years been misled by the Government, which keeps postponing action to resolve their pressing problems. At the same time the question of social justice arises for thousands of Greek citizens who feel they have been treated unfairly, having paid large sums for planning permission while others have put up houses without obtaining and paying for such permission.

In what other Member State of the European Union does unauthorised building take place on the same scale as in Greece? What information has the Commission received from the Greek authorities regarding the standard of workmanship of unauthorised buildings in Greece, where 52 % of EU seismic activity is concentrated? What precise definition of forest and forest land are being used for the purposes of Community legislation? Is there a case to be made regarding the members of building cooperatives who have been paying contributions for decades without obtaining building plots?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 2003)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it is not aware of statistics or information on unauthorised building in different Member States, thus the Commission can not assess the scale of unauthorised building in Greece. Furthermore, the Commission has never received information from the Greek authorities about the standards of workmanship of unauthorised buildings in Greece.

With regard to the definition of forest and forest land, the Commission would like to indicate that the Union Forestry Strategy does not include a definition of forest and forest land. National definitions of forests and forest land apply for Community legislation and financial instruments. The Regulation on ‘Forest Focus’, that has recently been approved, includes a definition of ‘forest’ and ‘other wooded land’, applicable to the actions that the Regulation will support.

The issue of the members of building co-operatives who have not yet received land although paying contributions to the building co-operative is a matter for national authorities and as such is regulated by national laws.