WRITTEN QUESTION P-0585/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Progress of land registry in Greece.
Date: 2001-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, Greece, land register

C 318 E/76

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

What does the Commission intend to do to ensure that the Court of Justice(cid:146)s decisions are fully respected
and that Community law is applied?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 2001)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that it has already addressed a reasoned opinion to the
Greek administration under Article 228 (ex-Article 171) of the EC Treaty for incomplete application of the
Court of Justice judgment in Case C-375/95, Commission v. Hellenic Republic, concerning the taxation of
motor vehicles.

Since the reasoned opinion was notified there have been two new developments:

(a) publication of a Court of Justice judgment in a similar case, C-393/98, Gomes Valente. This judgment,
delivered as part of a preliminary ruling, reflects the observations made to the Court of Justice by the
Commission and entails a review of the current system for calculating the tax base for used cars by
several Member States. The review in question is more favourable to European citizens and economic
operators;

(b) a fresh complaint by Greek economic operators, received by the Commission on 12 March 2001,
about a deterioration in the tax rates for used cars, applied since 1 January 2001, which, in their
opinion, is contrary to the judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-375/95.

The Commission reserves the right, after the necessary review and in accordance with the rules in force
and the principle of the right to a fair hearing, to incorporate these new elements in the infringement
procedure currently under way.

(2001/C 318 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0585/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 February 2001)

Subject: Progress of land registry in Greece

The Directorate-General for Regional Policy has, in a letter to the relevant authorities, expressed concern at
the anomalous nature of the continued funding of the national land registry project (for which ECU 172
million was earmarked under the 1994 budget, subsequently reduced by ECU 33,3 million as a result of
changes to the Community Support Framework), since progress made does not justify such funding.

According to the letter (cid:145)21 % of the projects were carried out, taking up 83 % of the programme(cid:146)s budget(cid:146).
Figures are also given comparing initial and current cost estimates.

However, the Commission(cid:146)s reply of 3 December 1997 to my Written Question No E-3332/97 (1) and to
those of other Members was predominantly reassuring, indicating that there were (cid:145)no more obstacles to
prevent the appropriations from being taken up within the time limit laid down in the CSF(cid:146).

The Commission:

1. Does it consider that the provisions of Article 24(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 (2) apply in this
case? Has there been a significant change affecting the conditions or nature of the operation for which
the Commission(cid:146)s approval has not been sort?

2. What appropriations are envisaged for the continuation of land registry operation under the third

CSF? What measures and what funding levels will the Community agree to?

(1) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998, p. 88.
(2) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988, p. 1.

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/77

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2001)

By its letter of 19 January 2001 to the Greek authorities, the Commission initiated the procedure laid
down in Article 24 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down
provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the
different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank
and the other existing financial instruments (1). The measures in question have been part-financed to date
under subprogramme No 5 (cid:129) national land registry (cid:129) of the environment operational programme for the
1994-1999 programming period. This subprogramme represents a Community contribution of € 104 025
million.

The Article 24 procedure, which has just begun, consists of several stages. The Commission has received
the Greek authorities(cid:146) reply to its letter referred to above and is considering it carefully in order to decide
what action to take.

The Commission has indeed noted, in particular on the basis of the data transmitted to it in December
2000, that there seem to have been delays and weaknesses in implementing the project. There have been
major amendments to the contracts for land registry studies, which have pushed up the cost, and there are
no commitments on a schedule or specific results, which creates uncertainty about completion of the
project.

land registry under the
For the 2000-2006 programming period the sum proposed for the national
Community support framework is € 164.1 million. The Commission considers that it would be premature
to launch the second phase of this project until the Article 24 procedure concerning the previous period
has been completed. It is essential to draw conclusions from previous experience before committing
Community funds to continuing this project.

The Commission has re-examined its answers to Written Questions E-3332/97 by the Honourable
Member (2), P-3617/97 by Mr Hatzidakis (4) and E-4155/97 by Mr Hatzidakis (3) concerning the land
registry in Greece and finds no contradiction with its current position, since the answers given in 1997
were based on the data available at the time.

The Commission would, however, clarify the first sentence of the second paragraph of its answer to
Written Question E-4155/97. It should read:
(cid:145)Work is currently underway on a total of 3,4 million
stremata (40 % of the 8,5 million stremata covered by the first three land registry studies under the second
Community support framework (CSF-II)).(cid:146)

(1) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988.
(2) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998.
(3) OJ C 223, 17.7.1998.

(2001/C 318 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0586/01

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(21 February 2001)

Subject: Birth defects in Sicily

The paediatrics department of the Muscatello hospital in Augusta has published data for the year 2000
concerning birth defects in Sicily. The situation in the industrial triangle of Augusta-Melilli-Priolo is deeply
disturbing, since the rate of birth defects is around 6 %, whereas the World Health Organisation (WHO)
considers that rates of 2 % and above should be seen as a danger signal.

Are there any provisions for Community rules and/or measures to protect the health of those living in
highly industrialised areas? Are there any Community measures for the prevention and treatment of birth
defects?

Will the Commission take steps to remedy the serious situation described above?