WRITTEN QUESTION E-1202/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Threat to cultural monument from building project.
Date: 2001-04-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, Olympic games, competence of the Member States, cultural heritage, environmental impact, sports facilities

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/59

(cid:129) the species which are vaccinated (cattle, pigs, sheep, etc.);

(cid:129) the age of the animals to be vaccinated and other individual factors.

Taking the above into account, on average a sufficient immunity develops in cattle from six to ten days
after vaccination. The words (cid:145)sufficient immunity(cid:146) above mean that, after exposure to the FMD virus,
clinical signs of disease and virus replication are to a large extent reduced in a vaccinated cattle population
when compared with a non-vaccinated one. Therefore, FMD may be more easily controlled and may
eventually die out in the vaccinated population.

However, cases of FMD may still occur in recently vaccinated cattle, which may then spread FMD virus to
non-vaccinated animals, as about three weeks are necessary to develop the maximum level of immunity.
Indeed, the tests on efficacy of FMD vaccines required by the European Pharmacopoeia and the Office
International of Epizootics (OIE) are carried out 21 days after vaccination. Vaccinated cattle may anyhow
act as virus carriers after FMD virus exposure.

The above data are based on information provided by FMD-vaccine manufacturers and on several scientific
papers which have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and/or presented and discussed in
the annual meetings of the research group of the Commission for the Control of FMD of the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which are substantially financed by the Commission.

In relation to the final question it is important to note that there was no support in either the Council or
the Parliament for the introduction of generalised propalyactic vaccination at any stage in the course of the
current FMD outbreak. This lack of support reflects the well identified limitations of such a policy which
include, but are not limited to, trade implications. In this regard, the current outbreak has had an impact
on trade, as many third countries have adopted temporary restrictions on imports from all or part of the
Community. Nonetheless, it can be safely assumed that if a generalised vaccination policy was introduced
there would currently be important and permanent restrictions on exports from the whole Community in
countries which insist on imports only from countries which enjoy the status of FMD-free, without
vaccination. These restrictions would also have an impact on Community internal production and
marketing of animals and animal products. Member States which were not affected by the current
outbreak would be most unwilling to see their disease status and exports compromised.

is inferred in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question. The Commission welcomes,

Finally, the Commission fully supports a review of the current approach towards vaccination, contrary to
what
the
forthcoming conference proposed under the Belgian Presidency on FMD and the implications and lessons
from the current outbreak. The Commission will also provide an opportunity for a full review of the
current approach in its forthcoming proposal on a Council Directive on FMD.

therefore,

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 82.

(2001/C 364 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1202/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Threat to cultural monument from building project

Plans for the 2004 Olympic Games include the construction of a table-tennis arena covering a total area of
32 000 m2 on the boundary of the districts of Galatsi and Nea Ionia very close to the (cid:145)Evmorfi Ekklisia(cid:146),
a 12th century church classified as a rare cultural monument with exceptional frescos.

C 364 E/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

the plan, describing it as
The agency responsible for Byzantine monuments has protested against
uncivilised and fearing that, apart from the aesthetic damage caused by the building attracting some 6 000
spectators and thousands of cars, the impact in terms of the safety, stability and pollution of the
monument will also be disastrous.

1. What steps will the Commission take to save the monument and the surrounding area, which has
been earmarked for reafforestation?

Did the environmental impact assessment take account of the adverse effects of the project on this

2.
cultural monument? Were alternative proposals considered?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Article 151 (ex 128) of the EC Treaty gives the Community competence to encourage cultural cooperation
in the
between Member States and to support and supplement their action (financially if necessary)
following areas:

(cid:129) improvement of the knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the European peoples;

(cid:129) conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance;

(cid:129) non-commercial cultural exchanges;

(cid:129) artistic and literary creation, including in the audiovisual sector.

Accordingly, the issue raised by the Honourable Member does not fall within the competence of the
Community, but is a matter solely for the Member State.

As for the environmental aspects, Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/11/EC (1), contains
no precise reference to this type of installation. However, taking the view that this project could be
considered an (cid:145)urban development project(cid:146) (point 10(b) of Annex II to the Directive) the Commission sent
the Greek authorities a letter on 15 February 2001 asking for details of the environmental assessment
under way for the project.

The Greek authorities have yet to reply.

(1) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment (OJ L 73, 14.3.1997).

(2001/C 364 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1205/01

by Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Organisational and restructuring problems of the Finmeccanica group

The industrial restructuring plans for the Finmeccanica group have aroused serious concerns among the
personnel of the group and its associates, Alenia Aerospazio, Alenia Difesa and Alenia Marconi Systems,
an Italo-British joint venture for military electronics run by a British managing director.

The group has announced losses equivalent to ITL 230 billion in its Italian operation alone, in a situation
that values production at 1 577 billion and the acquisition of new orders at 1 168 billion. It has produced
a restructuring plan that would seriously affect
Italian employment, with the redundancy of 400
employees, mainly in the factories at Gugliano and Fusaro.

Can the Commission confirm whether there is a dominant position in the British representative on the
group(cid:146)s internal management, which is otherwise established on the basis of parity?