WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3141/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Taxes and social security contributions as a percentage of GDP
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Eurostat, Greece, Portugal, economic statistics, gross domestic product, social-security contribution, tax

C 102/166

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3140/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 September 1997)

Subject: Infringement of the right to equal treatment between men and women

On 25 July 1997, the Labour Bank in Greece announced (circular SKY:308) a competition for the recruitment of
staff. The circular states that (cid:145)only male graduates(cid:146) are eligible, which is a flagrant violation of the principle of
equal  treatment  of  men  and  women,  Community  legislation  as  laid  down  in  Directives  76/207/EEC (1)  and
86/613/EEC (2) and Court of Justice case-law.

What measures will the Commission take to ensure that the circular in question is withdrawn? Does it intend to
investigate  the  bank(cid:146)s  recruitment  and  equal  pay  policies?  Is  the  Labour  Bank  involved  in  Community
programmes and, in particular, in Social Fund education and training programmes for its staff?

(1)  OJ L 39, 14.2.1976, p. 40.
(2)  OJ L 359, 19.12.1986, p. 56.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 1997)

The situation described by the Honourable Member is known to the Commission, which has already contacted
the Greek authorities to draw their attention to the discriminatory content of the circular in question.

However, it should be pointed out that, even if a violation were established, it would concern a private enterprise
and would therefore not warrant direct action by the Commission. This is because, while it is certainly possible
for Community law to be violated by Member States or private persons (individuals or enterprises), it is only
when  a  Member  State  violates  Community  law  that  the  Commission  may  take  steps  to  make  it  fulfil  its
Community obligations by instituting the infringement proceedings provided for in Article 169 of the EC Treaty.
On the other hand, anyone who feels wronged by this discrimination may take legal action to assert the rights
granted to him by Community law, in this case Directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of
equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and
working conditions.

(98/C 102/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3141/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Taxes and social security contributions as a percentage of GDP

The Eurostat report on taxes and social security contributions as a percentage of GDP for 1996 in the EU Member
States,  published  in  EUROPE  No  7049  of  3  September  1997,  does  not  include  any  statistics  for  Greece  and
Portugal.  Were  Greece  and  Portugal  in  fact  included  in  the  survey  and,  if  not,  what  information  does  the
Commission  have  concerning  taxes  and  social  security  contributions  as  a  percentage  of  GDP  in  these  two
countries?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 1997)

The report mentioned by Europe No 7049 of 3 September 1997 is (cid:145)Statistics in Focus, Economy and Finance,
No 28/1997, Taxes and Social Contributions in the European Union › First results for 1996(cid:146). The report contains
figures on taxes and social contributions in percent of gross domestic product (GDP) since 1980 for all Member
States, and analyses particularly the first provisional results for 1996. Figures published in the report are based on
preliminary data from the Member States(cid:146) statistical offices.