WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2567/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Kallithea Common
Date: 1997-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: Greece, afforestation, area management, building industry, green area, quality of life, quality of the environment, town planning, university, university library













EUR-Lex - 91997E2567 - EN






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91997E2567

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2567/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Kallithea Common  


Official Journal C 102 , 03/04/1998 P. 0059 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2567/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (24 July 1997)Subject: Kallithea CommonBuildings and commons which make up the natural and cultural heritage are important elements which contribute to the quality of life of inhabitants in the major conurbations; and it is a fact that the inhabitants of urban regions are increasingly concerned about the quality of the natural environment in which they live.Kallithea in Athens is one of the most densely-inhabited and developed towns in Greece. At the centre of this town is a single free space of 30 000 square metres which is a legacy and has been designated a green area and a common. This land is now under threat from a building project of doubtful utility funded by the Community: it is planned to construct university buildings on this site, although there is no obvious need for them and viable alternative sites exist on the outskirts of town which do not pose any problems. Urban programmes, of course, fall within the remit of the Member States, but there is scope for Community action, in accordance with the Green Paper on the urban environment.Bearing in mind:- that Article 24 of the Greek Constitution absolutely and expressly forbids construction by any means and for any purpose on, and the misuse or reduction of, the site in question, and that Community funds are allocated for use in accordance with environmental law, environmental ethics and an environmental rationale and code of conduct;- the Green Paper on the urban environment;- the Commission report of October 1994 on viable European cities; and- Commission communication (COM(97) 197);will the Commission say why a project is being funded which amounts to a further assault on the already heavily-polluted urban environment of Kallithea and is at odds with the Commission's sensitivity to matters relating to the quality of life and the promotion of viable development in the major conurbations?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (22 September 1997)Assuming that the Honourable Member is referring to the State Harokopion university, the Commission would inform him that, according to the Greek authorities:- the area described in the question is private property, bequeathed to the university in 1915;- four years ago the property was officially designated as a university compound. It has not been designated as a green area. Furthermore, as belonging to a university and as a bequest the property is protected by the Greek constitution and Greek legislation;- the university recently renovated its existing buildings. The surface of the surrounding grounds is 20 000 square metres, of which 670 square metres will be used for the construction of the university library, the only new building in the compound. The construction of the building has been officially approved by the Greek authorities following all necessary legal procedures, and is to be cofinanced by the Community in the framework of the operational programme for Attica;- the university has planted over 2 500 trees and plants and restored all traditional wells in the compound.