WRITTEN QUESTION E-1809/01 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Olympic boxing arena.
Date: 2001-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental law, impact study, sports facilities

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/211

Under the health promotion programme the Commission has initiated the establishment of different
3.
European networks which involve the key players in the field. Following the last call for proposals a project
of a consortium of 4 different networks had received a positive evaluation for funding, to carry out a pan
European project on the development of coping and prevention strategies in relation to depression. One
major target group will be elderly people. Although this project has not yet started the Commission can
already confirm that there is an infrastructure in place that comprises all Member States and World health
organisation (WHO) to tackle this issue.

4.
The EC Treaty underlines that the organisation and delivery of health services and of medical care are
the sole responsibility of the Member States. In practice, this means that it is up to the individual Member
States to take the appropriate measures in order to anssure that a range of suitable diagnostic procedures
and types of therapy are available for patients, and to decide on the conditions under which these services
are accessible. For this reason, the Community is not in a position to comment on the treatment of
depression of elderly in old-ages homes in the Member States.

(2001/C 364 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1809/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 June 2001)

Subject: Olympic boxing arena

The plan to site the Olympic boxing arena on public sports facilities in Palaio Faliro has provoked a storm
of protest in Greece. The Coordinating Committee of the campaign to save the coastline of the Saronic
Gulf claims that the new arena will cover an area of 1,5-2 hectares. Locating the boxing arena on the site
of the existing sports facilities will also deprive 3 000 children of the chance to pursue sporting activities,
while all the indications are that the arena, which was originally presented as being temporary, will be
permanent.

In the light of the above complaints, will the Commission say to what extent environmental feasibility
studies have been drawn up for this project?

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

(24 July 2001)

The Commission has no information regarding the project to build the Olympic boxing arena in Palaio
Faliro, as reported by the Honourable Member. However, in order that it might examine the dossier, the
Commission would ask the Honourable Member to provide it with more specific information on the
project in question, including a description of the project as approved, or in the course of being approved,
and of any adverse effect it might have on the environment.

(2001/C 364 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1814/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Water shortage on the Aegean islands

(13 June 2001)

The Aegean islands, particularly the Cyclades, are suffering from a severe shortage of water. According to
scientific studies, the Cyclades require 12 million cubic metres of drinking water a year, only 60-65 % of
which is supplied, while demand is expected to double by 2030. The problem is particularly acute during
the summer owing to the complete lack of rainfall and the several-fold increase in the population through
tourism. At the same time, the proliferation of deep boreholes for drawing water has resulted in dangerous
salinization of the groundwater.