WRITTEN QUESTION E-1439/01 by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE-DE), Jean-Louis Bourlanges (PPE-DE) and Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. SOS countryside telephone service.
Date: 2001-05-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, aid to agriculture, dissemination of EU information, farmer, implementation of the budget, information centre, public awareness campaign, welfare

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/155

2.

In the years 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Greece has taken up the following appropriations:

(cid:129) Budget

line B3-4113 (integration)

total of € 2 757 395, budget

line B5-803 (reception)

total of

€ 2 957 799 and budget line B7-6008 (voluntary repatriation) total of € 1 660 663.

(cid:129) The relevant amounts were spent on projects for the integration, reception and voluntary repatriation
of refugees and asylum seekers. A total of 26 projects were implemented comprising, in the case of
integration, activities such as accommodation, counselling, training, career guidance, advocacy and in
the case of reception improvements to or creation of reception centres, the provision of legal,
counselling and social/psychological support services. Projects under the budget line for repatriation
legal advice and counselling, assistance with return,
included activities such as vocational training,
creation of small businesses and job placement.

(cid:129) Under the Odysseus programme € 275 000 was granted in 1998, € 248 399 in 1999 and € 106 770

in 2000.

(cid:129) A total of seven projects were implemented covering actions such as training seminars on the control
and surveillance of external borders and on combating illegal immigration, or action for the defence of
human rights of refugee/asylum seekers.

3.
In the context of the European Refugee Fund (ERF) Greece(cid:146)s 2000 and 2001 programmes were
approved in March 2001. The relevant ERF contribution amounts to € 652 057,17 and € 629 043,03
respectively and aims at supporting Greece(cid:146)s efforts relating mainly to conditions for reception and the
integration of persons whose stay in Greece is of a lasting and/or stable nature. Projects are under the
selection process under the management of the Ministry for Health and Welfare at present.

4.
According to Community statistics in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 respectively 4 376, 2 953, 1 528
and 3 083 persons applied for asylum in Greece. In the same period, the Greek authorities accorded
Geneva Convention status to a total of 654 persons.

Greece reported a total of 22 078 immigrants in 1997 and 12 630 in 1998.

A total of 930 persons acquired Greek citizenship in 1997, with 807 acquisitions being reported for 1998.

Data on immigration and acquisition of citizenship are not currently available for 1999 and 2000.

The Greek authorities consider all data provided to the Commission which could give indications about the
scale of illegal immigration, such as figures on apprehended aliens illegally present at the Greek borders, as
confidential

(2001/C 350 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1439/01

by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE-DE),
Jean-Louis Bourlanges (PPE-DE) and Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: SOS countryside telephone service

(17 May 2001)

The consequences of the present crises in the farming sector, with outbreaks of BSE and foot-and-mouth
disease in several Member States, have put an enormous strain on the farming community.

Under budget line B3-301 (Information Outlets), SOS countryside telephone services are eligible for EU
funding. In the past this telephone service has proved helpful in helping people in the countryside coping
with the consequences of, among other matters, disease outbreaks.

From the year 2000 onwards, Commission services have refused to implement the funding provision for
these services, notwithstanding the fact that the Budgetary Authority explicitly put this activity into the
budget.

In view of the present circumstances in the farming sector, is the Commission intending to implement the
clear will of the Budgetary Authority?

C 350 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

Budget chapter B3-30, which includes line B3-301 (Information Outlets), is intended to fund information
and communication measures.

Under this policy, the Commission has set up a telephone service called Europe Direct, which provides
useful information. Naturally, it is also aimed at members of the farming community who can use it to
obtain information of general interest.

The Commission also funds the Rural Information and Promotion Carrefours, which currently have 130
members. The Carrefours are relays funded by the Commission, with which they have signed an
agreement, and are run by host organisations active in the rural community, such as Chambers of
Agriculture, development agencies and local government bodies. They can be found in all the regions of
Europe, are open to everyone and receive regular documentary information and training from the
Commission so as to be in a position to inform farmers on matters of interest.

The Commission believes that information activities are sufficiently covered by these two structures.

Between 1996 and 1999, under budget line B2-5122 (Enhancing Public Awareness of the Common
Agricultural Policy), the Commission funded the activities of the Enfsos network, which provides social
assistance. Ever since the budget for the year 2000, information activities concerning the CAP have been
financed under budget line B1-382 under Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 of 17 April 2000 on
information measures relating to the common agricultural policy (1). Social activities are not included
within this framework. This aspect of social assistance, which is not covered by the abovementioned
structures, may not be funded under line B3-301, as it falls neither under information nor communication.

The Members of the Commission responsible for agriculture and the budget have already explained this
situation in their letters to Mr Mulder dated 27 July 2000 and 19 October 2000. These letters suggested
looking into funding this type of activity under rural development programmes run by the regional and
local authorities or within the framework of the Leader Community initiative.

The Member of the Commission responsible for the budget also drew Parliament(cid:146)s attention to this point
in her letter of 1 December 2000 to Mr Wynn, the Chairman of the Committee on Budgets, concerning
the implementing problems regarding the 2001 budget procedure.

(1) OJ L 100, 20.4.2000.

(2001/C 350 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1440/01

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Magazine prices in Member States

Given the present situation where costs incurred for magazines published in Britain and sold in Ireland are
all quoted in sterling, can the Commission inform me if it is legitimate for magazine costs to differ quite
radically, apart from postage costs, when magazines are sold and distributed in another Member State?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2001)

Concerning variations of prices for magazines between Member States, a number of reasons may justify
such price differences. Substantial cost differences may occur for example due to different distribution
schemes, shipping costs, tax regimes, etc.