WRITTEN QUESTION E-2325/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Preservation of the shipbuilding heritage (caïques).
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, heritage protection, museum, shipbuilding

C 219 E/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

In order to be able to compare the detected levels in the Kymijoki with the situation in other rivers, the
Commission would need more information on the way results have been calculated.
It would be
particularly helpful to have information on the concentrations of the different congeners, the depth at
which measurements were performed, and whether results have been calculated according to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization/Centre for Coastal and Mar(cid:237)ne Sciences (NATO/CCMS) approach.

At this stage, without the benefit of more detailed information, it is difficult to judge the situation. The
Commission would therefore be grateful if the Honourable Member could provide the Commission with
more details.

In principle,
legislation. Therefore the possibilities to react at a Community level are limited.

this event, as described in the question,

is not covered by environmental Community

(2000/C 219 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2316/99

by Niall Andrews (UEN) to the Commission

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Failure of Malian company to pay outstanding funds, as contracted, to an Irish firm, Cormer

Machinery International

An Irish company, Cormer Machinery International Ltd. Entered into contract with Itema, a government-
backed Malian company, to supply and install second-hand textile machinery. The contract price was
USD 2,5 million, and an initial deposit of USD 850 000 was approved by the Malian Minister for Finance
and received by the Irish company in 1996. An amount of USD 1,65 million has not been forwarded by
Itema to Cormer Machinery International and is, therefore, still outstanding. Many discussions have taken
place regarding this issue between the Irish company involved and the Development Directorate of the
European Commission, as well as informally under the auspices of the ACP/EU Joint Assembly.

Will the European Commissioner for Development, Mr Nielson, request an urgent meeting with the Malian
representative to the European Union for an explanation as to why this Malian company has still not paid
to Cormer Machinery International Ltd. The monies which it agreed to pay to this Irish firm, and will the
Commissioner, as a matter of course, keep me informed about all developments regarding this issue until
such time as the serious problems detailed above have been satisfactorily and fully resolved?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

The Directorate general for development in Brussels and the delegation of the Commission in Bamako are
aware of the dispute between Cormer Machinery International Ltd and Itema.
the head of
delegation in Bamako has informally raised the matter with the Malian authorities including, in particular,
the Minister for finance. However, it is clear that the Commission has no competence in this matter which
is a commercial dispute between two companies for which international arbitrage arrangements are the
appropriate settlement channel.

Indeed,

(2000/C 219 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2325/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Preservation of the shipbuilding heritage (ca(cid:239)ques)

(13 December 1999)

In reply to my Written Question (E-3436/95) (1) concerning the preservation of the industrial heritage,
including fishing vessels from the eastern Mediterranean, the Commission referred to the then pending
Raphael programme and gave its assurance that (cid:145)should any initiatives linked with the (cid:133) specific fields of
interest meet the eligibility criteria (cid:133) then the Commission will gladly take them into consideration(cid:146). In

1.8.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/147

many of the Greek islands, action is being taken to preserve traditional wooden vessels (ca(cid:239)ques) made with
hand-held tools, in accordance with methods which, in many cases, were developed in the early Byzantine
period and have now fallen into disuse.

Given that museums in Greece are showing great interest in obtaining such vessels for their collections but
are unable to meet the cost of purchase, conservation and display, can the Commission say:

(cid:129) whether such expenditure is eligible for funding,

(cid:129) if so, from which programmes?

(1) OJ C 112, 17.4.1996, p. 31.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2000)

As the Honourable Member is aware, 1999 was the last year of the implementation of the Raphaºl
programme, which, together with Kaleidoscope and Ariane, will be replaced in 2000 by the framework
programme (cid:145)Culture 2000(cid:146).

One of the objectives of the (cid:145)Culture 2000(cid:146) programme will be to encourage European partnerships(cid:146)
initiatives which will aim at the exchange of information, experiences and know-how so as to bring to the
fore the best practices for the benefit of the preservation and enhancement of Europe(cid:146)s cultural heritage. In
this context, best methods of conservation and display in the shipbuilding heritage sector could be
considered as parts of projects that could be submitted under the (cid:145)Culture 2000(cid:146) programme, provided of
course that they meet its eligibility criteria. However, costs concerning the purchase of vessels and works
for their preservation or restoration will not be covered by the programme.

(2000/C 219 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2327/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Subsidies to meet the cost of transporting fresh agricultural products for export from Greece

Exports of Greek fruit and vegetables to European markets are encountering major problems as a result of
high transport costs (large distances, increase in costs charged by the owners of freezer vehicles during
peak export periods). These problems have been aggravated by the war in Yugoslavia and the destruction
of its road infrastructures, forcing exporters to use alternative routes which are both costly and time-
consuming.

According to the Greek Ministry of Transport the director-general of DG VI, Mr Lagras, is reported as
saying at a meeting with the Greek Undersecretary for Agriculture, Mr Vrettos, on 6 July 1999, that he
recognised the need to resolve this problem and requested further information from the Greek Govern-
ment with a view to taking the necessary measures.

Will the Commission take action to resolve the problem of increased transport costs which have to be met
by Greek exporters of fruit and vegetables? Have the Greek authorities provided the necessary information
for the adoption of suitable measures?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

The Commission confirms that Greece has supplied all the technical information required to examine the
problems facing Greek exporters.