WRITTEN QUESTION E-2329/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Unauthorised building in the Parnassos National Park.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, environmental protection, heritage protection, national park

C 219 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

In view of the difficult budget situation prevailing in 2000, the Commission cannot propose to the Council
that further measures of the type in force from 1991 until 1996, following the war in Yugoslavia, be taken
to assist the transport sector.

(2000/C 219 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2329/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Unauthorised building in the Parnassos National Park

(13 December 1999)

Environmental organisations are claiming that country houses have been built in the heart of the Parnassos
National Park, which forms part of the Fokida region(cid:146)s Natura 2000 network. There are also reports of a
presidential decree abolishing the national park and dividing it into plots and legalised pasturage.

Will the Commission say:

1. whether it is aware of the proposals to abolish or change the nature of the area forming part of the

Natura 2000 network and

2. what action it intends to take to protect the above area, which is a national park and classified as a

Natura 2000 zone (cid:145)A(cid:146)?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

The Commission is not aware of any plans to modify or abolish the protection status of the Parnassos
national park, which is included in a site proposed for the Natura 2000 network established according to
Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

As a matter of fact,
in the past, within the framework of a LIFE-Nature project co-funded by the
Commission and aiming to improve conservation and management conditions of Greek national parks, a
management plan for the Parnassos national park was also prepared. This management plan, drawing on
thorough knowledge acquired of the entire massif of Parnassos, provides for a modification of the
boundaries of the national park involving a correction and extension of the existing core area (dating
from 1938), as well as a clear definition and extension of the peripheral zone, only vaguely defined so far.
Within the core area in particular, no human interventions such as those mentioned by the Honourable
Member, are allowed.

According to information provided by the Greek authorities, a Presidential decree has now been drafted,
on the basis of the proposals of the management plan, and has been forwarded for adoption.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2000/C 219 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2330/99

by Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Private companies forwarding documents and parcels

(13 December 1999)

The forwarding of documents and parcels from one country to another using private despatching
companies and couriers appears to in practice offer little guarantee of the safety of the consignment or
its arrival with the intended recipient. The problem arises mainly from the fact that consignments are
forwarded using an outside company which, in turn, may entrust the transport and the delivery thereof to
yet other natural or legal persons, a process which offers no protection at all to the interests of the sender,