WRITTEN QUESTION E-4112/00 by Ioannis Theonas (GUE/NGL), Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) and Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Olympic Airways.
Date: 2001-01-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, State aid, air transport, bankruptcy, privatisation, transport company

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/71

Whether Brandenburg has completely taken into account the relevant selection criteria in Annex III in its
transposing legislation, in particular in Article 38(3)3. of the aforementioned legislation has not yet been
assessed by the Commission since Germany has so far notified the Commission of only two small pieces of
legislation as transposing measures to Directive 97/11/EC (one of which is the afore mentioned Branden-
burg law) and a complete conformity assessment will be carried out by the Commission once the
It seems
notification by Germany of the transposition concerning Directive 97/11/EC is completed.
however that not all relevant selection criteria of Annex III might be reflected by the thresholds or criteria
set in Article 38(3)3 in the said Brandenburg law.

In any event, as the Court of Justice has held in its jurisprudence, as far as the application of thresholds are
concerned, that (cid:145)although the second subparagraph of Article 4(2) of the Directive confers on Member
States a measure of discretion to specify certain types of projects which are to be subject to an assessment
or to establish the criteria or thresholds applicable, the limits of that discretion lie in the obligation set out
in Article 2(1) that projects likely, by virtue inter alia of their nature, size or location, to have significant
effects on the environment are to be subject to an impact assessment(cid:146) (Case C-72/95 Kraaijeveld, paragraph
50, C-392/96 Commision v. Ireland, paragraph 64).

The Commission has no jurisdiction to answer the Honourable Member(cid:146)s fifth question.

According to the available information, Community aid funds are not being used for this road construction
project.

(1) Annex I.7(b) and (c) EIA Directive lists the construction of motorways and express roads as well as the construction
of a new road of four or more lanes, or realignment and/or widening of an existing road of two lanes or less so as
to provide four or more lanes, where such new road, or realigned and/or widened section of road would be 10 km
or more in a continuous length.

(2) Annex II.10.(e) lists the construction of roads, harbours and port installations, including fishing harbours (projects

not included in Annex I).

(3) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(4) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(5) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(6) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 235 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4112/00

by Ioannis Theonas (GUE/NGL), Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL)
and Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 January 2001)

Subject: Olympic Airways

Despite the three restructuring programmes implemented over the last decade and the recent announce-
ment of a change in the ownership status of the airline, Olympic Airways is facing a crisis.

In view of this, will the Commission say:

1. Does it intend to seek solutions in collaboration with the Greek government which will not affect the

jobs and insurance and pension rights of employees?

2. What, in its view, is the reason for the failure of previous restructuring programmes?

3. Does it have any responsibility to follow up these programmes and identify shortcomings? If so, what

does this responsibility consist of?

C 235 E/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2001)

The Commission has been uneasily following the changes made to the Olympic Airways airline for several
years.

In its Decision of 7 October 1994 it authorised the payment of significant amounts of State aid to
Olympic Airways, while taking account of a restructuring plan that had been drawn up in order to ensure
the
the long-term viability of the company. On 30 April 1996,
company(cid:146)s intended recovery plan was not working in a satisfactory manner, the Commission resumed
the procedure in this matter. Then, on the basis of a new company restructuring plan, and of new
commitments by the Greek authorities, the Commission again authorised State aid, on 14 August 1998,
which had been covered by its earlier Decision of 7 October 1994.

feeling, among other things,

that

In the wake of the difficulties encountered in implementing the company(cid:146)s restructuring plan, the Greek
authorities decided to go ahead with privatising the company.

The Commission is in contact with the Greek authorities and is closely monitoring the current privatisa-
tion of the company in order to guarantee that this meets the requirements of Community law, more
particularly with regard to State aid.

(2001/C 235 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4113/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(11 January 2001)

Subject: Sudan

In light of the escalation in hostilities in the area around Sudan(cid:146)s oilfields, the continuing human rights
abuses and displacement of civilians in that country, and of the fact that there is little evidence to suggest
that
the Government of Sudan is seriously committed to progressive change, what plans does the
Commission have to review, with a view to ending, its policy of (cid:145)critical engagement(cid:146) with the Government
of Sudan?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 2001)

The relationship between the Union and Sudan has been strongly influenced by the renewed political
dialogue that the Union initiated in November 1999. Its purpose was to discuss and follow up develop-
ments in Sudan in the fields of democratisation, human rights and the rule of law, the peace process,
policies against terrorism and relations with neighbouring countries. The Union initiated the dialogue in
the hope that the government of the Sudan would make substantial progress in these areas.

A Union Troika mission visited Sudan on 6 December 2000 to assess the results of the first year of the
renewed dialogue. It voiced once more its concerns about the human rights situation in the country and
about the lack of progress in the Intergovernmental authority on development (IGAD) led peace process.
Despite these concerns, the Member States and the Commission view the outcome of the first year of the
political dialogue as generally positive and agreed to continue the dialogue for another year. An important
advantage of
the precise
expectations of the Union and, more generally, of the role of the Union as an important actor in
international relations. The political dialogue allows confidence building whilst at the same time constant
pressure is applied on the issues addressed, especially in the fields of human rights, democracy and the
peace process.

the Sudanese authorities have been made aware of

the dialogue is that