WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1376/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Abolishment of cotton and tobacco organizations
Date: 1998-05-07
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, aid to agriculture, cotton, processing industry, producer organisation, production control, production improvement, supervisory body, terms for aid, tobacco

C 50/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.2.1999

As far as Community legislation is concerned, the Greek authorities will have to introduce a new regulatory
framework, and this is another of the objectives of the operational programme. Accordingly, technical assistance
will be provided to help finance support activities (studies, analyses, seminars) in order to ensure that the
appropriate legislation is brought in in time.

(1999/C 50/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1372/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Trade union organizations and fish farms

(7 May 1998)

There has been a spectacular growth in fish farms in Greece, especially in the west of the country where over 1 000
persons are employed in this sector. The endeavours of trade union organizations, and notably the Mesolongi
Labour Centre, have resulted in the establishment of a trade union which is seeking to organize fish farm workers
from Mesolongi to Igoumenitsa. However, I have been receiving a stream of complaints from trade union
organizations about moves by employers aimed at pressurizing workers into withdrawing their signatures from
the founding charter of the new trade union or not joining it in the first place. I have myself witnessed some of
these cases in person when I visited the region.

Will the Commission say whether such actions are compatible with the basic principles of Community policy, the
Social Charter and the other provisions of the Treaties and whether it considers it opportune to ask the Greek
authorities to ensure compliance in this specific instance?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 1998)

There is no Community legislation on the right of association. In fact, Article 2 (4) of the Agreement on social
policy which is to be incorporated into Article 137 of the EC Treaty clearly states that the provisions of the Article
shall not apply, inter alia, to the right of association.

(1999/C 50/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1376/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Abolishment of cotton and tobacco organizations

(7 May 1998)

The Greek Government has tabled a bill to abolish the cotton organization and the national tobacco organization.
These two specialized and decentralized organizations have for fifty years been providing technical assistance for
growers and the cotton and tobacco processing industry; since 1981 they have also carried out primary-level
technical controls in respect of the payment of Community aid for these crops.

Since both the existing regulations and the revised versions proposed by the Commission in respect of these
products directly link the payment of aid to quality factors and will require crops to adapt accordingly (change in
varieties, continuous guidance for growers, specialized technical controls), will the Commission say:

1. What view does it take of the contribution made so far by the cotton and tobacco organizations in providing

technical support and in developing and improving cotton and tobacco crops?

2. Does it not consider that the abolishment of these organizations will create problems in carrying out the
necessary controls on the payment of aid, both during the new agricultural season and in the long term, given
that the abolishment of these organizations has met with the total and categoric rejection of all farmers(cid:146) and
processors(cid:146) organizations and workers in these sectors and that the new payments agency which will
implement the regulations and the primary-level technical controls will need a long time to operate properly?