WRITTEN QUESTION No. 279/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Safety standards for workplaces in Greece
Date: 1998-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Greece, construction equipment, medical institution, occupational health, occupational safety, public health, public works, safety standard

C 223/156

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

(98/C 223/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0279/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Safety standards for workplaces in Greece

Through Presidential Decree 305 of 29 August 1997 Greece adopted stringent safety standards for workplaces
employing technical equipment, in compliance with Directive 92/57/EEC (1). However, it is reported that the
Greek  administration  is  interpreting  the  provisions  of  this  directive  in  such  a  way  that  the  directive  will  be
circumvented and not implemented in the sensitive area of hospitals.

Will the Commission give its official views on this matter, and say whether the provisions of the directive in
question apply fully in the case of private and public projects?

(1)  OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 6.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 1998)

The  Commission  does  not  have  any  knowledge  of  improper  application  of  Directive  92/57/EEC  on  the
implementation  of  minimum  safety  and  health  requirements  at  temporary  or  mobile  construction  sites  in  the
hospital sector in Greece.

As stated in Article 2(1) of the framework Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage
improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (1), the Directive (cid:145)shall apply to all sectors of activity,
both  public  and  private  (industrial,  agricultural,  commercial,  administrative,  service,  educational,  cultural,
leisure, etc.)(cid:146).

Directive 92/57/EEC, to which the Honourable Member refers, is the eighth individual Directive pursuant to the
framework  Directive.  It  is  confirmed,  in  Article  1(3)  of  Directive  92/57/EEC,  that  the  provisions  of  the
framework Directive are fully applicable to temporary or mobile construction sites.

There is, therefore, no doubt that Directive 92/57/EEC applies to temporary or mobile construction sites in both
the private and public sectors, particularly as regards building or civil engineering works of the type referred to in
Annex I of Directive 92/57/EEC which are carried out at hospitals.

(1)  OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.

(98/C 223/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0280/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(17 February 1998)

Subject: Exclusion of apple producers from Kastoria form aid

Scores  of  apple  producers  in  the  Prefecture  of  Kastoria  in  Greece  (whose  production  of  700  tonnes  was
completely  destroyed  by  the  frost  in  April  1997)  have  been  excluded  from  any  compensation  or  aid  on  the
grounds that their (cid:145)family income(cid:146) exceeds 50% of their agricultural income, as the relevant circular by the Greek
Ministry of Agriculture states.

Will the Commission say whether this view is in keeping with Community legislation on this matter, and more
specifically, with Regulation 950/97 (1) of 20 May 1997, since a decision not to provide aid to the apple growers
of this region will mean total financial ruin for them?

(1)  OJ L 142, 2.6.1997, p. 1.