WRITTEN QUESTION E-2150/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Case of BSE in Greece.
Date: 2001-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, application of EU law, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, veterinary inspection, veterinary legislation

C 81 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

strong line on gender equality in negotiations with Member States over the new programmes. These
negotiations helped secure further increases in the level of resources devoted to the specific needs of
women above those originally proposed by Member States.

Virtually all Member States propose to adopt a two-pronged approach to equal opportunities between men
and women within the (ESF) programmes. These set specific measures to support gender equality alongside
a wider commitment to mainstream equal opportunities across all actions and programme priorities. It is
difficult to put a definitive figure on the overall investment in gender equality. However, specific actions to
promote gender equality supported under ESF will provide nearly € 4 billion between 2000-2006. The
inclusion of funds supporting mainstreaming actions would boost this figure significantly.

It is also important to recognise the potential
impact of projects supported through the Community
Initiative EQUAL. EQUAL will test and promote the mainstreaming of new ways of tackling discrimination
and inequality experienced by those in work and those looking for a job. Around € 3 billion is available
through EQUAL, with 8 % allocated to promoting equal opportunities for men and women.

Structural Fund support for women covers the whole spectrum of labour market activities. Many, however,
emphasise specific measures designed to develop and support childcare strategies, greater flexibility in
delivery arrangements for education and training, measures to combat occupational segregation and
specific targeting of activities for women (e.g. business start-ups). Many of these activities should contribute
to increasing the participation of women in the labour market.

There are also a few specific projects on gender equality as part of measures for local commitment to
employment, focusing for example on the transition to work of young women and men in ways that are
gender-sensitive, identification of good practice on local actions in favour of the employment of women, in
particular those carried out by the third sector, etc. The evaluation of these projects (for the year 2000) is
ongoing and results will be available in 2002.

Thirdly, the promotion of gender equality in economic life is one of the core objectives of the Framework
strategy on Gender equality and its supporting Action Programme (2001-2005) (3). € 50 million have been
allocated to implement
the Programme (2001-2005). Transnational projects run by Member States,
national equality bodies, non governmental organisations (NGOs), social partners and women(cid:146)s associations
as well as awareness-raising activities and research will be funded in order
to acquire a better
understanding of the gender gaps in the labour market and to disseminate strategies designed to close
them.

(1) Council Decision of 19 January 2001, OJ L 22, 24.1.2001.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 (cid:129) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(3) COM(2000) 335 final.

(2002/C 81 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2150/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 July 2001)

Subject: Case of BSE in Greece

The existence of a case of BSE in Greece has caused great concern among consumers and farmers alike as,
hitherto, the country had been considered (cid:145)immune(cid:146) from the problem.

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/117

Is the Commission satisfied that the tests carried out on cattle are sufficiently systematic and adequate
1.
in scope and number to safeguard public health? Can the existing laboratories and specialised personnel
cope with the required tests?

Does Greece comply with its obligations under Community legislation to pass on data relating to BSE

2.
screening in respect of domestic produce, imports of live animals and slaughtered animals?

Does the Commission know how the animal concerned became infected, given that the initial official

3.
statements maintain that the farm in question did not use dangerous meat and bonemeal?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2001)

The tests currently available are only capable of detecting bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) shortly
before the appearance of clinical signs, but not early in the incubation period. For that reason, removal of
specified BSE risk materials remains the most important measure to protect public health from BSE. The
Greek authorities have not indicated specific problems in providing adequate laboratory capacity for BSE
testing. The Commission intends to make a mission to Greece in September 2001 with a view to
monitoring the implementation of the testing requirements.

Greece is reporting regularly on BSE testing, in accordance with its legal obligations.

The Greek authorities have submitted extensive reports on the outcome of the investigations carried out to
clarify the source of infection. So far, it has not been possible to identify the source of infection and the
investigations are continuing. As the average period between infection and detection of BSE is four to six
years, the identification of the source of infection, once the disease has been detected, has often proved
difficult.

(2002/C 81 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 July 2001)

Subject: Threats by Turkey

In a document, No 9120 dated 13 June 2001, entitled (cid:145)Honouring of obligations and commitments by
Turkey(cid:146) (which was approved on 28 June 2001 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe),
Turkey refuses to allow the Ecumenical Patriarchate freely to dispose of its real estate or to accept
donations of real estate, whereas the Turkish State has in fact expropriated part of the Patriarchate(cid:146)s
property. As regards the Greek population of Imvros and Tenedos (islands which, under the Treaty of
Lausanne signed by Turkey in 1923, should be self-governing), the remaining inhabitants of Greek origin
number only 250 of the 3000 living there in 1965, while 7-8000 Turkish settlers have been moved in.

At the same time as Turkey has subjected its non-Muslim population to such acts of oppression, the
Foreign Minister, Mr I. Cem, speaking on the (cid:145)CNN Turk(cid:146) television network on 29 June 2001, repeated the
threats concerning his country(cid:146)s (cid:145)response(cid:146) if Cyprus were to join the Union, words which were echoed by
the Turkish Minister responsible for Cypriot affairs, S(cid:252)kru Sina G(cid:252)rel, on his arrival (2 July 2001) in
Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. A day before Mr G(cid:252)rel
issued his threats, the Turkish Agriculture
Minister, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp; had stated in an interview in Kibris, a newspaper published in the self-
styled (cid:145)state(cid:146), that the occupied territories(cid:146) energy problem (cid:145)could be solved by building a nuclear reactor
there(cid:146).