WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2598/98 by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Failure of Libya to pay off debts owed to Greek construction firms and other commercial enterprises
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, HATZIDAKIS
Subjects: European undertaking, Greece, Libya, building industry, debt, international sanctions

8.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 96/121

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Because of the length of the answer, which includes a number of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(1999/C 96/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2598/98

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Failure of Libya to pay off debts owed to Greek construction firms and other commercial enterprises

Since 1980, the Libyan Government has owed a number of Greek construction companies and other commercial
enterprises the sum of US$ 644 000 000 for work carried out in Libya, which has never been repaid on a regular
basis and ceased to be repaid at all once the embargo was imposed. Meetings between the Greek Ministry for
Economic Affairs and a Libyan State Commission to discuss the issue have proved fruitless, despite the fact that
the Libyan Government itself agrees that it owes a substantial portion of the amount claimed by the companies. In
view of the fact that other companies from other Member States of the Union (Germany, Italy, etc.) are in the
same position, will the Commission say whether it will take any action that might resolve this problem?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:237)n on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 1998)

The Commission has taken note of the Libyan Government(cid:146)s failure to pay its debts to Greek companies since the
embargo was imposed. However, the terms of its exclusive competence for economic and social affairs under the
first pillar do not give it any legal power to intervene in this matter, in the absence of any contractual ties between
the Community and Libya.

Recent developments in the Lockerbie case, and the possibility of a suspension of the embargo by the United
Nations Security Council, might create a new basis for resolving the problem of Libya(cid:146)s cessation of bilateral
payments to the Member States concerned. Should such efforts prove fruitless, the Commission is willing, within
its sphere of competence, to support any dØmarches undertaken by the Member States concerned through the
appropriate European institutions.

(1999/C 96/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2599/98

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Progress with implementation of Community Support Framework for Greece

The Community Support Framework (CSF) for Greece is a little less than a year and a half away from its
scheduled date of expiry.

Will the Commission say what amounts and percentages of the appropriations allocated for the CSF for Greece
have been disbursed to date:

1.

2.

in relation to the budget allocated for the whole of the operational period of the CSF (1994-1999),

in relation to the budget for the period from the commencement of the programme until the present time
(July 1998), and

3.

in relation to each operational programme jointly funded under the CSF for Greece?