WRITTEN QUESTION P-1556/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Data on road safety in Greece.
Date: 2000-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU statistics, Greece, common transport policy, road traffic, transport accident

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/163

In other words, does the Commission believe that, in those circumstances, the Brussels authorities would
have any legal, scientific or methodological basis for allocating to the residents of the poorest area only
half of the appropriations allocated to residents of the richest area?

Does the Commission not believe that the absurd hypothetical situation described above in the case of
Brussels is identical to what the Commission is actually doing at European level?

(1) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 114.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 2000)

The Commission agrees that the price for the same good, in particular a non-traded good, may vary
considerably between national, regional or local markets due to transaction costs which prevent arbitrage.
In theory, it might thus be desirable to calculate purchasing power of money (PPPs) for territorial units that
are smaller than Member States. In practice, however, price surveys which are needed to calculate PPPs are
rather expensive and these costs would multiply if calculated at regional or local level.

However, the Commission will carefully investigate the options to achieve regional PPPs at reasonable cost
in order to be able to make use of accurate regional PPPs before 2006, when the new list of eligible
regions will be decided, possibly on the basis of criteria similar to those laid down in Article 3.1 of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/99 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1).

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 53 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1556/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Data on road safety in Greece

The Easter holiday exodus in Greece once again resulted in some 50 dead and 450 injured in various types
of road accident. This is by no means a first-time occurrence; whenever people take to the roads in large
numbers in Greece, such as at weekends and the main public holidays, the death toll is always high.

Provisional figures would indicate that Greece is one of the few Member States of the Union (cid:129) if not the
one and only (cid:129) in which the number of people killed and injured in car accidents is not only not falling,
despite all the efforts of recent years, but is steadily rising. Will the Commission, therefore, say whether it
has any comparative data concerning road safety and its development in the various Member States? To
what does it attribute the steadily rising trend in Greece?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The Commission is sending what figures it has directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s
Secretariat. They confirm that, while the trend in the Community is one of improvement, Greece(cid:146)s road
safety record is worsening.

The Commission does not possess detailed analyses of the situation in each Member State.

C 53 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Factors contributing to Greece(cid:146)s particular situation include mass movement around major urban centres at
the beginning and end of holiday periods, and the growth in the number of vehicles on the road, which is
outstripping the road improvement programme.

Other factors include user behaviour (few Greeks wear safety belts or motorcycle helmets).

(2001/C 53 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1559/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Approval of payment of third instalment of Olympic Airways(cid:146) share capital increase

In his initial statements, referring to Olympic Airways (OA), the new Greek Transport minister noted that
the company was facing acute financial problems, that the scheduled transfer of some facilities to Spata
was at risk and that the deficit for 1999 would exceed the estimates. In accordance with the Commission
Decision on aid granted by Greece to OA (1999/332/EC (1)), the new management of OA submitted a
report on the company(cid:146)s progress in the context of the impending approval of the third instalment of its
share capital increase.

Since the Commission(cid:146)s decision on the progress of the company(cid:146)s restructuring programme is not known
and bearing in mind that the company is transferring its services to the new airport at Spata, will the
Commission say:

1. what its assessment of the company(cid:146)s operational plan is and whether the plan guarantees the

company(cid:146)s progressive development,

2. whether feasibility studies have been carried out into the sale or leasing of aircraft by 31 December

2000 and whether the company can make use of government guarantees, and

3. what its assessment of the company(cid:146)s financial situation is?

(1) OJ L 128, 21.5.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2000)

The Commission is calling on the help of independent consultants in order to gain a true picture of
Olympic Airways(cid:146) circumstances. It is maintaining contact with the Greek authorities so as to ensure that
the new operational plan, which is geared to privatisation of the company in the near future, will be
sufficient to guarantee its recovery.

Under Article 1(1)(ii) of Commission Decision 1999/332/EC of 14 August 1998, Olympic Airways may
receive (cid:145)new loan guarantees totalling USD 378 million for loans to be contracted before 31 December
2000 for the purchase of new aircraft(cid:146).