WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3617/97 by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Rate of progress of Greek land registry
Date: 1997-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, HATZIDAKIS
Subjects: Community support framework, Greece, land register, operational programme, public expenditure

C 158/164

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25. 5. 98

Regulation  No  2081/93 (1)  are  interpreted  so  that  it  is  sufficient,  when  ERDF  funds  are  allocated,  for  the
environmental impact to be checked by the Land investment bank, which fills in the notifications of assistance?

2.
If so, does the Commission consider that the procedure applied in the Land of Brandenburg adequately
fulfils  the  provisions  of  the  Regulation  to  the  effect  that  arrangements  be  made  to  associate  the  competent
environmental authorities?

Does  the  Commission  consider  that  the  Brandenburg  Land  investment  bank  is  sufficiently  qualified  to

3.
make a proper expert assessment of the environmental impact of projects?

(1)  OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 5.

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 1997)

According  to  information  supplied  to  the  Commission  by  the  Brandenburg  Ministry  of  economics,  which  is
responsible for the management in Brandenburg of European regional development fund (ERDF) funding, the
Investment  bank  (Landes-investitionsbank  ›  ILB)  is  not  responsible  for  the  evaluation  of  the  environmental
impact of ERDF cofunded actions.

This function is in fact carried out by the Land environmental authorities. In the case of large projects (those with
a total eligible cost over 15 or 25 MECU as the case may be), the written agreement of the Regional department of
environment (Landesumweltamt) is required befor ERDF support can be given. In the case of smaller projects
the  ILB  may  only  approve  project  payments  on  the  basis  of  prior  written  approval  by  the  environmental
authorities (Landesumweltamt, Bauamt).

(98/C 158/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3617/97

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(10 November 1997)

Subject: Rate of progress of Greek land registry

Given that Greece is one of the few countries in Europe still lacking a national land registry, the establishment of
such a registry is obviously a matter of capital importance for Greece. Will the Commission say, on the basis of
the information it has at its disposal, what is the overall volume of appropriations set aside for funding the Greek
land registry, how much has been disbursed so far, what progress has been achieved in relation to the project as a
whole and when is the project expected to be completed at the present rate of progress?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf- Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 1997)

The  Environment  operational  programme,  as  approved  on  29  July  1994,  provides  for  public  expenditure  of
ECU 172 million on the establishment of the land register in Greece, representing a third of the programme(cid:146)s
budget. Following the recent discussions on the amendment of the Community support framework (CSF), it is
planned in principle to reduce the budget for the land register by ECU 33.3 million (public expenditure).

The current absorption rate of this project is 11%. That rate is expected to double (22%) by the end of 1997, when
the signed contracts will represent ECU 120 million. The Commission considers that it was necessary to make
proper legislative and organisational preparations for the introduction of a national land register system. This
necessarily took time, so that the utilisation of funds as such could only start as from this year. The Commission
believes that there are no more obstacles to prevent absorption of the appropriations within the time limit laid
down in the CSF.

According to the programming of the Greek authorities, it will take approximately 15 years to complete the land
register throughout Greece.