WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2026/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Psychiatric care in Greece
Date: 1997-06-05
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU financing, Greece, action programme, health care profession, marginalisation, psychiatric institution, psychiatry, public health, social change, social policy

22. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21/135

(98/C 21/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2018/97

by In(cid:152) igo Me·ndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission

(11 June 1997)

Subject: Aid for the shipping sector

The Commission has adopted new guidelines authorizing state aids in the shipping sector.

Does the Commission intend to grant aid from European funds to counteract the decline in the European fleet?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 1997)

On 6 May 1997, the Commission adopted revised guidelines for state aid in the maritime transport sector. The
revised guidelines were envisaged in the Commission communication (cid:145)Towards a new maritime strategy(cid:146) (1)
which recommended such a review in order to help maintain and develop the Community’s shipping sector.

The guidelines seek to regulate the manner in which aid is granted by the Member States. However, apart from a
number of initiatives in the area of training (e.g. Leonardo) it is not foreseen that Community funding will be
used to aid the maritime transport sector.

(1)  COM(96) 81 final.

(98/C 21/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2026/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 June 1997)

Subject: Psychiatric care in Greece

Further to the Commission(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question P-1038/97 (1):

1.  The  effect  of  suspending  funding  for  the  social  exclusion  programmes  for  people  with  mental  health
problems until the study for the completion of the psychiatric care reform is approved is that various centres
are being dismantled, staff are unsettled and specialists are leaving. What measures will the Commission
take to ensure that funding continues in this interim phase until the programmes covered by the new study
are finalized and approved?

2.  The measures implemented under Regulation 815/84 (2) fell within the terms of reference of the Ministry of
Health, whereas the measures relating to the social exclusion of people with mental health problems are now
a matter for the Ministry of Labour, the adverse consequences of which are well-known. What steps will the
Commission  take  to  ensure  that  the  measures  which  are  a  continuation  of  Regulation  815/84  are  the
responsibility of the Ministry of Health?

3.  Apart from ministry officials, do those taking part in the study of the psychiatric reforms include the people
who are directly responsible for and familiar with the situation of psychiatric hospitals and, in particular, the
biggest of these, the Attica Psychiatric Hospital?

4.  Has provision been made for staff of the Attica Psychiatric Hospital to form part of the committee managing

the programmes to combat the social exclusion of people with mental health problems?

5.  What stage has been reached in the Greek study of the reform of psychiatric care? When is it expected to be

approved and implemented?

(1)  OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 219.
(2)  OJ L 88, 31.3.1984, p. 1.