WRITTEN QUESTION No. 380/99 by Alexandros ALAVANOS Operation of detoxification unit in Greece
Date: 1999-03-01
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, dismissal, drug addiction, medical institution, psychiatric institution, public service, therapeutics

29.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 341/103

Article 6(3) and (4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats
and of wild fauna and flora (3).

(1) Commission Decision C(95) 3068 of 11 December 1995, as amended by Decision C(96) 3776 of 12 December 1996.
(2) Commission Decision C(96) 2626 of 23 September 1996.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(1999/C 341/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0380/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Operation of detoxification unit in Greece

(1 March 1999)

At a time when drug use is snowballing in Greece and the whole of Europe, the detoxification unit of the Attica
Psychiatric Hospital, one of the very few rehabilitation units in Greece, is under threat of closure and having to
end its programmes for the treatment of substance dependency, as well as its prevention programmes, because
redundancies among the medical staff are affecting the treatment of patients, which relies on the bonds which
develop between them and the staff.

1. What are the Commission’s views on the frequent changes of medical staff in this kind of establishment?

2.
If the Commission agrees that the changes in medical staff have a damaging effect, will it intercede with
the Greek government to persuade it to exempt this type of establishment from the law on public sector
recruitment?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 1999)

1.
It is generally accepted that an abrupt disruption in the relationship between therapist and patient,
especially an addict, may have adverse consequences on the latter. Remedies to such problems are, however, a
matter for the Member States.

2.
The Commission trusts that the Greek authorities are taking the necessary steps to address the situation
and they have its full support in doing so. It should be noted in this context that the Commission is examining
a proposal by the Greek authorities for a special action of the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica to improve
patients’ living conditions and to promote the de-institutionalisation of the greatest possible number of
patients.

(1999/C 341/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0382/99

by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Commission

(19 February 1999)

Subject: Implementation of Joule-Thermie Programme within the 4th Framework Research Programme

With reference to the Court of Auditors Special Report No 17/98 on Joule Thermie Research (1), will the
Commission explain why the figures relating to expenditure on projects are more than 20 % less than those set
out in Annex II to the Council Decision on the Specific Programme on Energy Research in the 4th Framework
Programme (94/806/EC) (2) and, in particular, why allocations for SMUs are entered separately rather than
being included in the project allocations, which would entail a 5 % participation by SMUs in the programmes.

Can the Commission also explain why, in the Joule expenditure until the end of 1997, there is a shortfall of
ECU 70 million for renewables, although ECU 8,9 million and ECU 6,8 million were overspent for Rational use
of energy and Fossil fuels respectively?