WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2212/98 by Kenneth COATES to the Commission. Health and safety: monitoring of persistent enquirers
Date: 1998-07-16
Institutions: COATES, European Parliament
Subjects: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, United Kingdom, dissemination of information, occupational health, occupational safety, worker information

5.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 31/133

destroy a large area of the Hymettos forest, the densest woodlands around Athens; this is one of the few
remaining greenbelts around this European capital which faces particularly severe environmental problems.
The destruction of 30 hectares of forest is planned in order to make way for a surface ring road. One solution to
this problem would be to open a tunnel: the Athens Polytechnic has already drawn up a realistic study for such a
project, but it has been rejected on cost grounds. Local municipalities have mobilized in order to avert this
destruction. Given that the European Union is helping to fund this project through the Community Support
Framework, will the Commission say whether it intends to intervene in good time in order to save the woodlands
and, if so, how?

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

(3 September 1998)

The Greek authorities have informed the Commission that the final study for the Imitos ring road, connecting the
new Spata airport to the southern part of Athens, envisages the construction of an underground 4.5 km section,
i.e. 37.5 % of the overall length (12 km). The Greek authorities confirm that they have examined all the alternative
tunnel solutions and have chosen the optimum solution from the point of view of transport and the environment.

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, an environmental impact study was carried out
for the project in question and environmental conditions were approved by a ministerial decision, in accordance
with national and Community provisions. The contents of this decision were incorporated in the law voted by the
Greek Parliament for Spata international airport (1).

(1) Greek law No 2338 (Greek OJ No 2002a of 14.9.1995).

(1999/C 31/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2212/98

by Kenneth Coates (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Health and safety: monitoring of persistent enquirers

(16 July 1998)

Is the Commission aware that the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive is subjecting (cid:145)persistent enquirers
for information(cid:146) to (cid:145)Special Monitoring(cid:146)?

What entitlement to health and safety information is specified in European Directives? What does the
Commission recommend should be done in response to such treatment of concerned specialists working in this
important field?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 1998)

This is a matter for the Member State concerned.

Nevertheless, the obligations laid down for employers in the (cid:145)health and safety(cid:146) Directives include providing
information for workers.

In any case, one of the main objectives of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work is to provide
interested parties with useful technical, scientific and economic information relating to safety and health at work.