WRITTEN QUESTION E-1670/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council. Respect for the cultural identity of Pomaks and Roma.
Date: 2001-06-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, Roma, competence of the Member States, education policy, language teaching, linguistic discrimination, minority language, protection of minorities

14.2.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/75

Given that the work is proceeding at a snail(cid:146)s pace, despite the fact that its funding is guaranteed by
Community appropriations, the take-up rate of which is not consistent with their investment in the
construction of the Egnatia Highway, will the Commission say:

1. what the cause of the delay to the project is, the precise stage reached in implementing the project

and when exactly completion is expected,

2. whether the amounts earmarked under the second CSF for completion of the project have been fully
used up and, if so, whether the project has been included for funding under the third CSF, and

3. what the total cost of completion of the project is, and what precisely Community funding provided
for that purpose has been spent on, given that only 20 % of that sum has been invested in the
implementation of the project?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

From the port of Igoumenitsa to Kipi, at the border of Greece with Turkey, the Egnatia motorway has a
total length of 680 kilometres (km).

Already before the beginning of the 1994-1999 programming period, a two lane road of a total length of
120 km has been constructed and will be used provisionally as part of the new motorway.

Under the 1994-1999 and 2000-2006 Objective 1 programmes,
the Greek authorities propose to
construct 560 km of this motorway. Within this total, 455 km are already under construction with a
completion schedule according to the Greek authorities, as follows: 155 km completed by April 2001;
69 km to be completed by end 2001; 78 km to be completed by end 2002; 153 km to be completed in
the years 2003-2004. The remaining 105 km are under study and should be constructed either as public
works or under concession schemes, also during the 2000-2006 programming period.

According to the Greek authorities, progress has been affected by the fact that the motorway is a very
large scale project, presenting difficulties mainly due to adverse geological conditions, especially in its
western part, while there have been other challenges linked to the need to ensure the compatibility of the
route with environmental protection and to avoid the destruction of the archaeological heritage.

Total public expenditure provided for this project under the 1994-1999 programme amounted to € 691
million, of which € 470 million from the ERDF. On the basis of information provided by the Greek
authorities, the whole amount had been spent by the end of the year 2000. Public expenditure provided
under the Greek CSF during the 2000-2006 programming period is estimated at € 1 325 million, of which
€ 663 million from the ERDF.

In addition, € 283 million was granted from the Cohesion fund during the 1994-1999 programming
period for a total public expenditure of € 466 million. For the 2000-2006 programming period, the
Cohesion fund is expected to contribute € 411 million for a total public expenditure of € 746 million.

The cost of completing the project (560 km of motorway) is estimated by the Greek authorities at some
€ 2 billion, of which € 691 million had been spent by the end of 2000.

(2002/C 40 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1670/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: Respect for the cultural identity of Pomaks and Roma

(15 June 2001)

Approximately 120 000 Greek Muslims live in Greek Thrace. 50 % of those are ethnic Turks and the other
50 % consists of Pomaks and Roma. They exercise their religious rights unimpeded, there are numerous

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14.2.2002

mosques and a large body of clergymen, and the Greek State completely fulfills its obligations in that area,
in total contrast to Turkey, which has wiped out the Christians of Istanbul, Imbros and Tenedos, and
constantly obstructs religious worship in the few remaining churches in that country.

The Greek State, however, for some totally inexplicable reason, refuses to allow the Pomaks and Roma to
be taught at school the languages which they themselves have spoken for hundreds of years. While it is
compulsory for Pomak and Roma children to be taught Turkish in schools in Greek Thrace, they attempt
by every possible means to assert their own identity and their wish to be taught their own languages. In
it is in widespread everyday use, has an alphabet and
the case of the Pomak language,
it
grammatical rules but, although reading material has been compiled for pupils by Pomak teachers,
remains unused because the Greek State insists on teaching only Turkish to young Pomaks.

in particular,

In the Council(cid:146)s view, to what extent is the Greek authorities(cid:146) policy of eradicating the Pomak and Roma
languages in Greek Thrace and replacing them with Turkish consistent with the principles and objectives
of the EU concerning respect for the linguistic and cultural diversity of minorities living on its territory?
What practical measures could the Council take to persuade the Greek authorities to respect the linguistic
identity of the Pomaks and Roma of Greek Thrace?

Reply

(8 October 2001)

Concerning the educational provision for minority languages within Greece or any other Member State the
Honourable Member is reminded that Article 149 of the Treaty states that the Community shall fully
respect (cid:145)the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of
education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity(cid:146). Similarly, as far as the field of culture is
concerned, Community actions are limited to encouraging (cid:145)cooperation between the Member states and, if
necessary, supporting and supplementing their action(cid:146) (Article 151 of the Treaty).

(2002/C 40 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1673/01

by Jacqueline Foster (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Pilots over 60 years of age

Could the Commission give an up-to-date progress report on its proposal to harmonise standards and
requirements for flight crew licensing throughout the European Community, in particular, the upper age
limit for flight crew, which in some states is 65 and in others 60?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2001)

The Commission has indicated on a number of occasions that it intends to propose the creation of
common requirements for the issuing of civil aviation flight crew licences based on the standard adopted
by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), known as the JAR-FCL.

However, major analytical work is needed to check that the said standard is compatible with Community
law. The Commission will nonetheless do all it can to produce a consultation paper before the end of the
year on the expediency and content of a legislative initiative on this matter.

In this context, the question will be raised of the age of pilots and its link with the safety of air operations,
with a view to possible harmonisation at Community level.