WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1219/96 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Suspension of Cohesion Fund support for water supply projects in eight towns in Greece
Date: 1996-05-10
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, water supply













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91996E1219

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1219/96 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Suspension of Cohesion Fund support for water supply projects in eight towns in Greece  


Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0065 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1219/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (10 May 1996)Subject: Suspension of Cohesion Fund support for water supply projects in eight towns in GreeceDG XVI of the Commission of the European Communities has sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the Greek Ministry of the National Economy calling for the suspension of funding under the Cohesion Fund for water supply projects in eight Greek towns (Chalkida, Ptolemaïda, Giannitsa, Veroia, Trikala, Florina, Argos and Tripoli) 'in the interests of the approval of major and very large-scale projects'.Given that work on these essential projects is fully under way - such as in Chalkida - and the suspension of funding would greatly damage the interests of those concerned, will the Commission say:1. Why is it recommending the suspension of these projects;2. What specific projects does it intend to fund with the resources which will be 'saved' in this way?3. How does it propose funding the above projects so that they can be completed?4. Have the Greek authorities agreed to suspend funding?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (18 June 1996)In accordance with Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 792/93 of 30 March 1993 establishing a cohesion financial instrument, ((OJ L 79, 1.4.1993. )) in October 1993 the Commission approved technically and financially discrete stages of water supply projects in the districts of Halkida, Ptolemaïs, Yiannitsa, Veroia, Trikkala, Florina, Argos and Tripolis. The works in question were completed in October 1995.Subsequently, in July 1994 and November 1995, the Greek authorities submitted other technically and financially independent stages of water supply projects in the those same districts, under Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 of 16 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund. ((OJ L 130, 25.5.1994. )) Those projects, costing between ECU 1.4 million (for Halkida) and ECU 3 million (for Ptolemaïs), were not adopted, and in December 1995 the Commission informed the Greek authorities accordingly.The Cohesion Fund has not received an application from the Greek authorities for these projects as a group of related projects pursuant to Article 10(3) of the Cohesion Fund Regulation. If such an application were presented, the Commission could reconsider the cases in question.The Cohesion Fund receives a large number of projects. The Commission evaluates them in accordance with the criteria and provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 and approves projects for part-financing on the basis of the availability of funds and the balance to be maintained between its two areas of involvement. The Commission would point out that Greece has received all the funds earmarked for it in respect of 1993-95, with the environment and transport receiving contributions of 60% and 40% respectively.