WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2231/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Development of forests and protecting them from fires
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Community support framework, EAGGF Guarantee Section, EAGGF Guidance Section, Greece, action programme, fire protection, forest conservation, forestry policy, operational programme













EUR-Lex - 91997E2231 - EN






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91997E2231

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2231/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Development of forests and protecting them from fires  


Official Journal C 060 , 25/02/1998 P. 0113 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2231/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 July 1997)Subject: Development of forests and protecting them from firesBearing in mind the enormous importance which Greece attaches to developing forests and protecting them from pollution and fires:1. What sums has the Commission approved for the forestry sector under the CSF 1994-99 for Greece?2. Has Greece applied for EU funding for programmes on the protection and development of Greek forests?3. If so, how much, and to what extent have the programmes been implemented and the appropriations taken up?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 July 1997)1. Under the 1994-99 CSF forest development and protection accounts for a total budget of ECU 235.2 million, of which ECU 176.4 million is from the EAGGF Guidance Section. This latter amount was approved by the Commission as expenditure in part under the national operational programme for agriculture (ECU 92.8 million) and in part under the thirteen regional operational programmes (ECU 83.6 million) for the period 1994-99.EAGGF payments for action on the ground amount, for 1994-96, to ECU 53.8 million for the national operational programme, a rate of realization of 58%, and to ECU 35.3 million for the thirteen multifund regional operational programmes, a rate of realization of 42.2%. This gives a total for both sides of the CSF (national and regional) of ECU 89.1 million in the first three years, i.e. 50.5% of total EAGGF funding programmed for the full six-year period (1994-99). Take-up of resources has thus been optimum given the requirements of the forest sector in Greece.To these amounts must be added ECU 3.64 million from the EAGGF approved for the forest sector under the Interreg II Community Initiative (external frontiers).2. The Greek programme for afforestation of agricultural land approved by the Commission on 27 April 1994 under Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 ((OJ L 215, 30.7.1992. )) schedules expenditure of ECU 43.5 million chargeable to EAGGF Guarantee for the period 1994-97. Actual expenditure to 30 April 1997 was ECU 30.9 million.3. Under the Community aid scheme for protection of forests against fire (Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 ((OJ L 217, 31.12.1992. ))) ECU 13 million was granted for 57 Greek projects over the period 1992-96. Some 17 projects, accounting for ECU 6.8 million, have already been completed. Under the aid scheme for protection of forests against atmospheric pollution (Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 ((OJ L 326,21.11.1986. ))) ECU 710 029 was granted, for the period 1992-96, for 12 projects presented by Greece for the annual inventory of forest damage and forest soil condition and for continuous intensive ecosystem monitoring. Expenditure on these projects amounts to ECU 364 775.Both schemes fall under budget heading B2-515 'Forestry' (non-EAGGF agricultural appropriations) and have been renewed for a further five-year period (1997-01) by Council Regulations (EC) Nos 307/97 and 308/97 amending Regulations (EEC) Nos 3528/96 and 2158/92 respectively ((OJ L 51, 21.2.1997. )).