WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3128/97 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Community funding for those affected by the sinking of the Aegean
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ ALBOR
Subjects: EU aid, Galicia, Greece, crude oil, financial aid, fisherman, marine pollution, ship's flag

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/91

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 1997)

Under the Leonardo da Vinci programme, the Commission organises several types of placements and exchanges
in the area of vocational training for young people across Europe.

Since the programme began in 1995, more than 15 200 young workers have had placements in businesses or
training bodies in the different participating countries, some 32 000 young people in initial training have done
work  placements,  often  in  businesses,  and  almost  6  400  trainers  have  taken  part  in  exchanges  within  the
Community.

In  addition,  since  1995  almost  22  600  students  and  new  graduates  have  had  placements  in  businesses  in  the
different countries taking part in the programme.

Furthermore,  the  Commission  has  initiated  a  wide-ranging  debate  with  both  the  Member  States  and  the
organisations  concerned  on  the  lines  of  action  identified  in  its  Green  Paper  on  the  obstacles  to  transnational
mobility  for  young  people  in  training (1).  It  is  now  preparing  to  take  a  whole  series  of  measures  which,  in
accordance with the feedback received, should encourage mobility by the different target groups identified in the
Green Paper, especially students, apprentices, voluntary workers and researchers. The first of these measures
could be to prepare a draft Community instrument aimed at promoting transnational mobility through European
pathways for work-linked training and apprenticeship.

(1)  Doc. COM(96) 462.

(98/C 134/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3128/97

by Gerardo Ferna·ndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Community funding for those affected by the sinking of the Aegean

On 3 December 1992 the Greek oil tanker Aegean, which was carrying 80 000 tonnes of crude oil, ran aground
near  Torre  de  He·rcules  at  Corunna  (Spain),  thus  causing  an  environmental  disaster  which  is  still  affecting
3 000 families and also fishermen, shellfish gatherers and aquaculture businesses.

The Spanish Government has recently authorized the appropriate state finance body to provide funding of up to
12.5 billion pesetas at a 3% interest rate in order to help those affected to overcome the effects of the disaster.

Can the Commission say how much aid has been provided by the Community and how much it intends to make
available to supplement the aid provided by the Spanish Government?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 1997)

Early in 1993 the Commission introduced arrangements to provide partial compensation for losses suffered by
shipowners  and  crews  whose  activities  were  temporarily  disrupted  due  to  contamination  of  their  traditional
fishing zone by an oil slick from a spill of approximately 80 000 tonnes following the running aground of the
tanker (cid:145)Aegean Sea(cid:146).

These  compensation  arrangements  were  confirmed  in  a  Commission  decision  on  concerted  action  to  grant  a
tide-over allowance for fishermen and shipowners on the coast of La Corun(cid:152)a (Spain) who were forced to suspend
their fishing activities in Galician waters as a result of the damage caused by the shipwreck. The Commission has
paid out approximately ECU 1.5 million.

The Commission has no plans to grant any further compensation for fishermen and shipowners affected by the
disruption of fishing caused by the accident in December 1992.