WRITTEN QUESTION P-3217/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Violation of safety rules by Macedonian Airlines in Greece.
Date: 2000-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, air safety, civil aviation, competence of the Member States, legal working time, safety standard, technical regulations, transport company, transport regulations

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/207

The Nice European Council will receive a report from the Presidency on the work carried out within
6.
the Council on the whole issue of crisis management, including relations with the United Nations in this
area. On the question of the framework and detailed arrangements for the dialogue between the two
organisations on crisis management and conflict prevention, the Council is not yet in a position to reply at
the present stage of discussions both within the EU and with the United Nations and of work on the
reorganisation of these activities within the framework of the United Nations (along the lines indicated in
the Brahimi report).

(2001/C 136 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3216/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Maryam Arubi sentenced to death by stoning for adultery

Is the Council aware that Maryam Arubi (30), found guilty of adultery, was sentenced to death by stoning
under the Iranian penal code based on the Islamic sharia? Could EU representatives and representations
abroad take this serious human rights situation in Iran into account when the forthcoming UN resolutions
are being prepared and adopted, including those being drawn up at this moment for the Millennium
Summit?

Reply

(20/21 December 2000)

The Council was not aware of the case referred to by the Honourable Member.

Abolition of the death penalty in all countries is a principle which is stoutly defended by all the Member
States of the European Union. Moreover, the Council would point out that stoning is prohibited under the
Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. Executions by
stoning are now rare in Iran, but unfortunately they do still take place.

The European Union has made its position clear to the Iranian authorities at meetings which have taken
place in the framework of the political dialogue and has urged that steps be taken to abolish the death
penalty. The European Union has asked Iran, as a first step, to declare a moratorium on executions, with a
view to eventual total abolition, and to step up the progress being made on human rights.

Over the last few years the European Union has taken initiatives within the UNO to secure the adoption of
including the death penalty. The European Union has therefore
resolutions on human rights in Iran,
decided to submit a proposal for a resolution to the current session of the General Assembly.

(2001/C 136 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3217/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Violation of safety rules by Macedonian Airlines in Greece

(12 October 2000)

The Greek Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a decision on 3 February 2000 (YPA/D2/G/5238/1387)
ordering checks on the technical operation and maintenance of Macedonian Airlines A.E.
(MA A.E.),
a subsidiary of Olympic Airways A.E.
(OA A.E.). The check revealed serious violations, sufficient (cid:129)
according to the report (cid:129) to warrant the suspension of MA A.E.(cid:146)s air operator(cid:146)s certificate.

C 136 E/208

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

Because of lack of space I will only mention certain examples of violations: instances were detected of
flying hours and crew working hours being exceeded. Pilot training on the simulator was carried out by
individuals who were not simulator instructors. It emerged from pilot records and work schedules that
pilots have fictitious flying experience. During the check MA A.E. could not substantiate the claim that the
technical department facilities were being used in compliance with legal requirements. The technical
department was staffed by just one person. Following all these and further serious violations, the check
was discontinued on the responsibility of MA A.E.(cid:146)s director of flight operations, who refused to cooperate
or to provide further information.

I was astonished by the content of a letter, dated 10 July 2000, sent by the director of the CAA calling on
MA A.E. to carry out flights on its own responsibility, in spite of the fact that in the same letter he
described the firm as being in total disarray. In its answer MA A.E. challenges the CAA for not imposing
appropriate sanctions. It should be noted that on 17 February 1999 the CAA had sent to MA A.E. the
results of an investigation with similar findings.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the above state of affairs at MA A.E.?

Does the situation discovered by the monitors comply with international safety rules, the JAA

2.
standard and the provisions of Community legislation?

3.

If not, what steps does the Commission intend to take to maintain Community law?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 2000)

According to the information in the Commission(cid:146)s possession it would seem that two subsidiaries of
Olympic Airways have been named Macedonian Airlines. One is a company subject to the laws and
supervision of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It is thus not subject to Community law and its
technical supervision is in the hands of the authorities in that State. The other is a company under Greek
law that is subject to the technical inspection of the Greek aviation authorities.

The Commission is not directly involved in the technical supervision of air transport companies and had
not been aware of the problems raised by the Honourable Member, but it notes that if the Greek aviation
authorities consider it worthwhile to notify a company of a certain number of shortcomings in its working
methods, this is proof that they are carrying out their supervision. However, the Commission is unable to
assess whether the seriousness of the situation would have required the Greek authorities to go further by
banning or suspending the operations of that carrier, for which they have the freedom and responsibility.

If, furthermore, the company at issue is that governed by Greek law, it should also be pointed out that the
shortcomings reported are not at this stage covered by any Community legislation. The Commission has
indeed laid proposals before the European Parliament and the Council in this connection (1), but they will
not be adopted and take effect for several months yet. Thus they can only be covered by Greek law, which
in turn must be in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation(cid:146)s (ICAO(cid:146)s)
international
standards. The Commission has already identified dysfunctions within the Greek air safety system and on
15 June 2000 served notice on the Greek Government with regard to the application of the Community
rules on aircraft maintenance.

the Greek air safety system was recently audited, more particularly under the ICAO(cid:146)s
Moreover,
programme for auditing its contracting parties, and in accordance with the information received by the
Commission it would seem that these too have enabled a certain number of inadequacies to be confirmed.

This being the case the Commission again intends to serve notice on the Greek authorities and to remind
them that involvement by their carriers in the internal market requires them to ensure that they provide a
high level of safety.

(1) COM(2000) 121 final.