WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1766/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Fitting of gas 'traps' to HGV exhausts and Community funding
Date: 1997-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: EU financial instrument, EU financing, Greece, action programme, anti-pollution device, combustion gases, commercial vehicle, eligibility criteria, environmental protection

22. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21/93

(98/C 21/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1766/97

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(27 May 1997)

Subject: Fitting of gas (cid:145)traps(cid:146) to HGV exhausts and Community funding

According to a report in the Greek newspaper Athina(cid:14)¤ki, the Commission(cid:146)s LIFE programme encourages the
fitting of (cid:145)traps(cid:146) to HGV exhaust-pipes, which greatly reduces pollutant emissions. The report also states that the
Commission pays 50% of the cost involved, the other 50% being covered by the Member State.

Will  the  Commission  state  the  terms  on  which  hauliers  may  apply  to  have  a  (cid:145)trap(cid:146)  fitted  to  their  vehicles(cid:146)
exhaust? How many applications have been received from Greece and what is the total amount given to that
country?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 1997)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it is unaware of the information set out in the
Greek (cid:145)Athina(cid:14)¤ki(cid:146) newspaper on the subject referred to. Moreover, although a draft proposal concerning (cid:145)traps
for particulates emitted by diesel engines(cid:146) was indeed put forward in the LIFE programme in 1996 and 1997 no
such proposal has so far been adopted for co-financing.

The LIFE programme could possibly finance a project proposal on the subject in question provided that it meets
the  criteria  laid  down  by  Council  LIFE  (EC)  Regulation  No  1404/96  of  15  July  1996 (1)  amending  Council
Regulation 1973/92 on the creation of a financial instrument for the environment, and more particularly, that of
being  demonstrative  and  innovative  in  nature  and  of  being  selected  for  co-financing  on  completion  of  the
Commission’s selection procedure.

The LIFE financial support is 30% of the spending that is eligible for projects generating revenue, and 50% of the
spending for other activities.

(1)  OJ L 181, 20.7.1996.

(98/C 21/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1767/97

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(27 May 1997)

Subject: Selection of staff for the European Environment Agency (EEA)

The European Environment Agency is funded from the EU budget. The Agency has a shortage of Greek staff,
whose  presence  is  confined  to  the  vice-chairmanship  of  the  EEA(cid:146)s  Scientific  Committee  and  ex  officio
placements of Greek civil servants.

A new process of selecting staff ((cid:145)temporary agents(cid:146)) at grades A7, A6 and A5 is already under way. Will the
Commission,  therefore,  say  whether  the  selection  process  will  endeavour  to  observe  the  required  balance  of
nationalities among the EEA(cid:146)s staff so that Greek nationals are adequately represented at this very important
European Agency?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 1997)

The European environment agency is an independent body with legal personality even though it is funded almost
entirely  by  a  subsidy  from  the  Community  budget.  Article  9  of  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1210/90  on  the
establishment of the European environment agency and the Europeanenvironment information and observation