WRITTEN QUESTION E-2366/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Economic viability of Spata airport.
Date: 2000-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Greece, European Investment Bank, airport, board of directors, co-financing, exchange of information

C 113 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

If Member States so wish, the Commission will gladly examine (cid:129) in the context of Member States(cid:146)
5.
annual forest-fire protection plans and within the limits of the appropriations available (cid:129) proposals for
improving forest-fire protection measures, and particularly forest-fire monitoring, in storm-affected areas at
risk. The Commission has just developed a new system for daily notification of the forest-fire risk level.
The system, which uses satellites to identify risks, is undergoing trials from 15 June to 30 September 2000.
On the basis that parameters relating to plant stress and evapotranspiration of wooded areas play a
predominant role, the system constitutes a highly reliable instrument.

(1) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.
(2) Within the meaning of Article 2 of the Regulation.

(2001/C 113 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2330/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: German backdated pensions tax

The German Government has recently requested of freelance teachers that they backpay 19,5 % of their
income for the past four years into the state pension fund.

While recognising that it should be up to Member States to determine their own tax rates, can the
Commission confirm whether in its opinion:

1.

2.

freelance teachers have been discriminated against unfairly in this process, and

retrospective taxation rises are not in breach of Community law?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2000)

The Commission was not aware of the issue raised by the Honourable Member.

However, there is no prima facie evidence that Community law has been infringed. This could be the case
if this request for contributions was discriminatory, either on the grounds of nationality or of sex.

It should be noted that the German authorities are requesting the payment of pension contributions which
should give rise to benefit entitlements.

(2001/C 113 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2366/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Economic viability of Spata airport

(13 July 2000)

According to Greek press reports, the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank which is co-funding
the construction of Spata airport has expressed his concern about the economic viability of the project in
letters to the management of Athens International Airport.

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/87

1. Will the Commission say if it is aware of the content of these letters?

2. What are the grounds for the concerns expressed by the Vice-President of the EIB?

3. What view does it take of this matter?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

On the basis of information given by the European Investment Bank (EIB), there was an exchange of letters
in February 1999 between Mr Gennimatas, former EIB Vice president and Dr Jorg Schill, then Chief
executive officer of Athens international airport. This exchange mentioned routine aspects concerning the
airport(cid:146)s construction and operation. At the time, the key issue on which most parties focused was
construction, and operational and business planning was at a relatively early stage.

The EIB considers that since that time, as is to be expected considering the project(cid:146)s good physical
progress, the emphasis has moved increasingly towards the operational and business aspects. In July 2000,
an EIB monitoring mission confirmed that, overall, the project implementation status was fully satisfactory,
and that it should be operational on time and on budget.

The Commission shares the view expressed that the implementation status of the Spata airport project is
today fully satisfactory, and that the project should be operational on time and on budget.

(2001/C 113 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2395/00

by Marie Isler BØguin (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Wetlands conservation at Lo Poyo (Murcia, Spain)

(18 July 2000)

Would the Commission answer some questions, following its reply to Question E-0139/00 (1) of 8 March
2000 on the conservation and management of the Lo Poyo wetlands. The Commission said it had
contacted the Spanish authorities about the failure to comply with undertakings given when LIFE funding
(B4-3200/93/775) was awarded for the conservation of Murcian wetlands.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:129) What mistakes or oversights in procedures led to housing development projects that failed to take
account of the importance of this wetland site (cid:129) which is recognised by Directive 79/409/EEC (2) and
the Ramsar Convention (cid:129) and of the fact that, under the directive, the site ought to have been under
supervision as a special protection area?

(cid:129) Can the Commission say whether the housing development projects have received any Community

financing under the Structural Funds?

(cid:129) What type of measures are incumbent upon the Commission if it is to penalise the LIFE beneficiary(cid:146)s
failure to comply with undertakings to protect the site? Is consideration being given to extending these
penalties to the judicial sphere?

(cid:129) Will the Commission press forward with an investigation into the Murcian regional administration(cid:146)s

failure to respond to the Commission(cid:146)s numerous attempts to intervene?

(cid:129) Has the Murcian region been asked for reimbursement of the LIFE funding to protect the site, in view

of its failure to respect legislation and obligations to answer letters?