WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1594/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Progress of sub-programme 3 of the programme to combat social exclusion in Greece
Date: 1998-05-25
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: European Social Fund, Greece, administrative formalities, commitment of expenditure, foreign national, fundamental rights, marginalisation, penal institution, prisoner, reintegration into working life

C 13/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

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relevant national language and does not necessarily require translation into one, several or all official languages
of the Community. Discrimination against German-speaking groups abroad is neither intended nor implied: these
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states either. Where a German-speaking group is targeted in particular, the relevant material is produced in
German.

(1999/C 13/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1594/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 May 1998)

Subject: Progress of sub-programme 3 of the programme to combat social exclusion in Greece

According to Ministry of Justice statistics, 40 % of prisoners in Greek jails are foreign nationals who have diverse
ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds. This situation has developed in cramped conditions in the prisons
which breed belligerence and violence between groups and individuals, putting the rights of prisoners at risk on a
daily basis.

Measure 1 of sub-programme 3 of the programme to combat social exclusion in Greece, which concerns
prisoners, ex-prisoners and young offenders, has a low funding take-up rate of 10 %. Will the Commission say
what the main reasons are for the low take-up rate of funding for the programme and what measures it will take to
advance the programme on schedule?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 1998)

The objectives of measure 3.1 (cid:145)Prisoners, ex-prisoners, young delinquents(cid:146), which has total funding of
38,2 MECU, of which the European social fund contribution is 28,6 MECU, are linked to the more general
objectives of the operational programme (cid:145)Combating exclusion from the labour market(cid:146), 1994-1999 Community
support framework for Greece. In the case of prisoners, the intervention aims, in particular, at creating the
conditions for their integration or re-integration into the official labour market. Foreign prisoners could benefit
from the operational programme provided that they are legal residents of the Member States.

According to recent data from the Greek ministry of Labour, the absorption rate of the 1994-1997 measure in
relation to the 1994-1999 relevant budget is approximately 14 %. The low take-up is mainly associated with the
overall operational programme implementation problems encountered in the 1994-1997 period › the innovative
approach, lack of appropriate administrative and support structures, lack of implementing agencies and
accreditation shortcomings. Moreover, changes in the prison status of the target group in question, such as
transfers and early release, render more difficult the implementation of schemes.

Following the re-establishment of the accreditation system and the recent reprogramming aimed at simplifying
the operational programme structure and procedures whilst maintaining the programme(cid:146)s objectives and
approach, more effective action implementation is expected.

(1999/C 13/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1595/98

by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission

(25 May 1998)

Subject: Technical standards for electrical surveillance equipment

Is there any EU technical standard in existence which would safeguard heart pace-makers in the vicinity of
electrical surveillance equipment (store security tags, CCTV, etc.), and if not, does the Commission see the need
for such a standard?