WRITTEN QUESTION No. 398/99 by Alexandros ALAVANOS Rehabilitation of Lake Karla
Date: 1999-03-01
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Central Greece, Community support framework, EU financing, Thessaly, biotope, climate change, environmental protection, lake, operational programme, project evaluation

12.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 325/89

As is always the case for Member States, the eligible work undertaken by Greece qualifies for 100 % funding.
The costs are to be borne by growers, in the form of a flat-rate deduction from the aid received. The
Commission has so far been notified of expenditure of EUR 6 million for 1998 (allocated mainly to map-
making), which will be subject to an accounts clearance procedure.

The work would seem not to have been completed primarily because the Greek Ministry of Agriculture has
accorded the matter low priority. The authorities have to cope with slow procedures for publishing invitations
to tender and awarding contracts, and are drastically short of specialist staff for drawing up technical
specifications. In view of this, it is likely that Greece will continue for some time to be subject to financial
corrections to production aid when accounts are cleared and, in accordance with the new rules, must redouble
its on-the-spot checks on aid applications and crop declarations.

(1) OJ C 21, 22.1.1998.
(2) OJ L 293, 31.10.1998.

(1999/C 325/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0217/99

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Rehabilitation of Lake Karla under the 2nd CSF

At the north-eastern edge of the Plain of Thessaly in Central Greece lay Lake Karla, which was drained dry
some 40 years ago, severely affecting the environment and the local economy : the change in climate affected
crops, the level of the water table fell, the quality of the ground water deteriorated, tectonic phenomena
appeared (subsidence and fracturing of the earth) and the Pagasitic Gulf was polluted. The Prefectures of Larissa
and Magnesia are insisting that the plan to recreate Lake Karla should go ahead but European Union funding
for this purpose would be essential.

Will the Commission say whether this project will be incorporated into the 2nd CSF and, if so, when? What
further measures does it believe should be taken in this connection, given that the project is vital for the region
as a whole?

(1999/C 325/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0398/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Rehabilitation of Lake Karla

The draining of Lake Karla in Thessaly in 1963 bears out the theory that nature punishes human intervention
when it does not take account of all the environmental implications involved; it has caused enormous
problems such as climate change in the area, a sharp fall in water table and groundwater levels, faults in the
earth and severe pollution of the Pagassitic Gulf.

In order to tackle all these problems and restore the ecological balance in the area, the regional authorities of
Larissa and Magnesia decided, with the approval of the public at large, to start work on recreating Lake Karla.

Greece has submitted a proposal to the Commission for the inclusion of the project to rehabilitate Lake Karla
in the 2nd CSF. Is the Commission considering jointly funding the project and providing support immediately
from the present CSF?