WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Non-disbursement of appropriations under the second CSF for Greece.
Date: 2001-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, Greece, operational programme, payment

C 40 E/132

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1891/01

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Subject: Persecution of the Greek minority in Albania and activities of Albanian extremists in Greece

According to a report by the Athens News Agency from Gjirokastra, the former Prime Minister of Albania,
Mr Fatos Nano, formally condemned the leader of the official opposition, Mr Sali Berisha, on 29 May 2001
for the harsh policies he had pursued as President of Albania against the Greek minority living in the south
of the country. Mr Nano described how he used to share cigarettes in the prison cells with Greek
Albanians imprisoned by Mr Berisha. He also estimated that USD 1 billion in currency was flowing into
the country from the hundreds of thousands of Albanians working in Greece.

The weekly magazine, Zoom, published in FYROM reported on 25 May 2001 that a major offensive was
about to be launched by Albanian extremists in Greece, who have already formed a force called the
(cid:145)Tsamouria Liberation Army(cid:146). Citing secret service sources, the magazine reports that a complete plan of
operations was drawn up early in the year in Switzerland (where most of the leaders of the Albanian
extremist organisations live), the objective being the annexation of Greek territory to a (cid:145)Greater Albania(cid:146).

What is the Commission(cid:146)s response to the information that terrorist operations may be launched on the
territory of a Member State of the Union? What information does the Commission have concerning the
the large Greek minority (cid:129) which even the former Prime Minister of Albania has
persecution of
condemned (cid:129) which was also repressed for decades by Hoxha(cid:146)s totalitarian communist regime? Is the
Commission considering linking EU economic aid to Albania with respect for the human rights of the
Albanian people and the ethnic minorities living in that country?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2001)

The Commission is not aware of any terrorist operations which might be launched by possible Albanian
extremists in Greece.

Repression in Albania during the Hoxha era was, regretfully, quite widespread, and it certainly included
representatives of the Greek minority. The situation has, however, evolved since 1991. Today, Albania is
signatory of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of National Minorities and, in general,
takes a constructive approach towards minority issues. It recognises the existence of an important Greek
minority and is attempting to bring its legislation and practice up to international standards. During
discussions in the framework of the Union/Albania High Level Steering Group in May 2001, the Albanian
Government stressed its intention gradually to complete the legal framework for minority protection and
to abolish the concept of (cid:145)minority zones(cid:146). These steps will contribute to enhancing minority protection in
Albania.

Community assistance to Albania has been, and will continue to be, linked to the respect of essential
political criteria such as human rights and protection of minorities. The Commission closely follows up
developments in these sensitive areas.

(2002/C 40 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Non-disbursement of appropriations under the second CSF for Greece

What is the amount of appropriations made available to Greece under the second CSF which have not yet
been disbursed? Which specific programmes are concerned and what are the reasons for the delay?

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/133

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2001)

The Commission has paid all instalments to Greece for all operational programmes (OPs) of the 1994-
1999 Community Support Framework, with the exception of the final instalments for 1999, for which the
Greek authorities have not yet presented their payment requests.

These final payment requests must be presented to the Commission after the OPs closure by the Member
States and must be submitted with the final execution reports for each OP. In the vast majority of cases,
they are submitted after the deadline for payments to the final beneficiaries, which in this case is the end
of 2001.

(2002/C 40 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1896/01

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Preservation of North Sea cod and haddock stocks

With reference to Commissioner Fischler(cid:146)s answer to Written Question E-1138/01 (1), are the observers
who are required to sample the percentage of each species caught by vessels fishing for sandeels employees
of the Member States or the Commission, and are their findings sent to the Commission and made
available as a matter of public record?

Could the Commission also indicate whether any independent bodies, including university marine biology
departments, have issued findings which support the Commission(cid:146)s view that there is little if any evidence
that industrial sandeel fishing in the North Sea deprives species such as cod, haddock, whiting etc. of their
food?

(1) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 212.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The observers referred to are employees of Member States.

Their findings will be sent to the Commission. At present, the Commission has no intention of publishing
these findings. However, they will be made available to officials of Member States and will be discussed
with Member States when formulating further details of the North Sea cod recovery plan.

To date, the Commission is unaware of any findings issued by university marine biology departments or
any other scientific body on the effects on food supply to cod, whiting, haddock etc. of industrial fishing
for sandeels or any other species. However, the Commission has part-funded a research project in which
relationships between the abundance of sandeels and factors such as growth rate of cod were investigated
in a geographical area off the east coast of Scotland. The results of this study have still to be worked up
and published. This study has been continued on the initiative of British authorities. Results of the
continued study are not yet available.