WRITTEN QUESTION No. 261/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Dissolution of the Greek Productivity Centre (ELKEPA)
Date: 1998-02-13
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, European Social Fund, Greece, co-financing, economic development, economic support, vocational training, work productivity

C 223/150

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 1998)

Over the past few months Greece has notified the Commission under Article 93(3) of the EC Treaty of several
compensation  measures  for  losses  suffered  by  farmers  because  of  natural  disasters  (floods,  hail,  fire,  heavy
snowfall, etc).

Conformity of such measures is examined under the terms of Article 92(2)(b) of the EC Treaty. To apply that
provision, the Commission drew up a framework requiring a minimum intensity of damage to aid recipients and
stipulating that excessive compensation must not be paid for damage incurred. Within that framework, restriction
of the aid to a region, crop or type of farmer is a political choice for which responsibility is borne entirely by the
national authorities and this cannot be challenged under Articles 92 to 94 of the EC Treaty.

(98/C 223/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0261/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 February 1998)

Subject: Dissolution of the Greek Productivity Centre (Elkepa)

The  Greek  Productivity  Centre  is  a  body  which  has  made  a  continuous  and  active  contribution  to  the  Greek
economy over the last 44 years and plays a significant role in the Association of European Productivity Centres
of which it holds the vice-presidency. Today the Elkepa is responsible, inter alia, for implementing programmes
funded by the European Union in the  following  sectors: training  (the  Community initiatives NOW, Horizon,
Youthstart,  etc.,),  the  modernization  of  the  Public  Administration  in  the  field  of  the  national  entrepreneurial
programme,  Kleisthenis,  inter-state  cooperation  programmes,  such  as  PHARE  and  RETEX  and  bilateral
inter-state aid programmes.

Given  that  the  Greek  Council  of  Ministers  has  decided  to  abolish  the  Elkepa  and  to  transfer  its  activities  to
another body, there is some concern about the future of the programmes it is implementing.

Will the Commission say:

1. Whether problems are likely to occur as regards the management of the programmes it is implementing? Of
so,  does  it  intend  to  take  steps  to  ensure  the  smooth  functioning  of  the  programmes  which  the  Elkepa  is
co-funding and managing?

How  does  the  Commission  view  the  overall  performance  of  the  Elpeka  in  implementing  European

2.
Programmes?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1998)

Elkepa  is  an  institution  which  has  been  financed  by  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  815/84  on  exceptional
financial support in favour of Greece in the social field (1). Elkepa played an important role in the realisation of
the programmes co-financed by the European social fund (ESF).

Although the Commission has not been officially informed of this matter by the Greek authorities, it seems, as
mentioned by the Honourable Member, that the Greek government has decided to abolish this institution. Any
replacement or transfer of activities to another institution remains, of course, within the competence of the Greek
authorities  and  should  take  place  according  to  national  legislation.  However,  providing  vocational  training
should remain the purpose of Elkepa infrastructures financed by this Regulation.

It will only be possible to have a clear assessment of the activities of Elkepa after completion of the evaluation
procedures which are currently under way for all ESF programmes in Greece.

(1)  OJ L 88, 31.3.1984.