WRITTEN QUESTION E-2073/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Projects to renovate and modernise the water supply network in Attica.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, Greece, drought, water supply, water treatment

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/103

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 2001)

The Commission is concerned about the lack of international rules for the liability and compensation of
the substances in question.
In its Communication on a second set of measures on maritime safety
following the sinking of the oil tanker Erika (1), the Commission held that an advancement regarding the
regime for liability and compensation for hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) is necessary and needs
to be addressed as a matter of priority at international and European level.

The Transport Council, at its meeting on 20 December 2000, called upon Member States and encouraged
third parties to ratify the 1996 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in
connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea. The Commission will follow
this undertaking up and take the necessary steps to facilitate the ratification in accordance with
Community law.

As a first step, the Commission will propose a decision authorising Member States to ratify the Bunkers
and HNS Conventions. This is a necessary precondition,
in light of existing Community law and the
exclusive Community competence in certain matters regulated in the two conventions.

If, despite these efforts,
there would be no appropriate liability and compensation regime at an
international level, the Commission will make a proposal for adopting Community legislation introducing
a Europe-wide maritime pollution liability and compensation regime.

(1) OJ C 120 E, 24.4.2001.

(2002/C 81 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2073/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Projects to renovate and modernise the water supply network in Attica

According to statements made by the managing director of the Athens water company EYDAP, there is a
clear danger of a water shortage in Attica since the reservoirs contain only enough water for two years.
This volume is internationally considered the minimum for a secure water supply. The company
management has announced projects to renovate and modernise the water supply network in 2001, with a
total budget of GRD 3 billion. The EYDAP programme includes projects aimed at reducing spillage with
funds totalling GRD 25 billion up to 2005.

Did the Commission receive proposals from the Greek Government aimed at combating the water

1.
shortage in Attica as part of the second CSF? If so, what proposals were deemed eligible?

Has the Commission received specific proposals from the Greek Government for projects to renovate
2.
and modernise the water supply network and combat the water shortage in Attica as part of the third CSF,
and if so what do these proposals involve?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2001)

The Commission part-financed the following projects for drainage and modernisation of the distribution
network for drinking water in Attica under the Cohesion Fund in 1993-1999: construction of the Evinos
dam and related work at a total cost of € 339,87 million and improvement of the supply and distribution
networks in Attica managed by the company responsible for the supply of water and waste-water

C 81 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

treatment in Athens (EVDAP) at a total cost of € 125,32 million. It is currently considering a request to
amend these projects to permit additional work amounting to € 10,94 million. No project was part-
financed under the Community support framework (CSF) during the 1994-1999 programming period.

The Commission has not yet received the proposals by the Greek authorities concerning drainage projects
and projects to modernise the water distribution network and combat drought in Attica to be part-
financed by the CSF in the current programming period, 2000-2006. When they are sent
to the
Commission, these proposals will be examined on the basis of the priorities laid down in the environment
operational programme of that CSF.

(2002/C 81 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2089/01

by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Council

(12 July 2001)

Subject: Press freedom in Laos and the funding of the magazine (cid:145)Le RØnovateur(cid:146)

The Government of the People(cid:146)s Democratic Republic of Laos has a total monopoly over the written and
audiovisual media. The laws governing the media envisage prison sentences of between five and 15 years
for any journalist who does not report events in a (cid:145)constructive(cid:146) way or reports them in a way which
(cid:145)obstructs(cid:146) the work of the Communist Party. On 8 June last the Minister for Education and Culture,
Mr Phandouangchit Vongsa, promulgated a law setting out in detail the criteria which all journalists are
now obliged to respect when reporting a piece of news, and stepping up the monitoring of information
published on the Internet. Furthermore, the weekly magazine (cid:145)Le RØnovateur(cid:146), which is published in French
and is funded by the Intergovernmental Agency for French-speaking Communities, in no way escapes the
control of the authorities and its content does not distinguish it from any other publications, since it
merely prints the official French translation of texts produced by the Ministry for Information, and its
editor is also the editor of the (cid:145)Vientiane Times(cid:146) (the English edition of one of the national newspapers
published in the Lao language).

Is the Council aware that the Member States (cid:129) in the context of their participation in the Intergovern-
mental Agency for French-speaking Communities (cid:129) are funding a publication which serves as the organ of
the only political party in the country? Does the Council not consider that funding of this kind, even if
indirect, by the Member States is in blatant contrast with the Union(cid:146)s official policy of promoting freedom
of the press? If so, does it intend to include this issue on the agenda for one of its future meetings and,
more generally, what practical and effective measures will the Council take to promote true freedom of the
press in Laos?

Reply

(27 November 2001)

The Council has not been informed about the funding of the publication (cid:145)Le RØnovateur(cid:146). It attaches
importance to freedom of the press and upholds it everywhere, whether it be in the People(cid:146)s Democratic
Republic of Laos or elsewhere. Through the procedures of the Council, the concerns of the Honourable
Member have been brought to the attention of the Member States concerned.

(2002/C 81 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2094/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: EU Food and Veterinary Office

It has been decided to relocate the EU Food and Veterinary Office to Grange, County Meath in Ireland. Has
the Commission ever assessed Grange for its suitability as a location for such an institution and could the