WRITTEN QUESTION E-2419/01 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Falsification of statistical data in Greece.
Date: 2001-09-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU statistics, Greece, disinformation, employment statistics

C 40 E/244

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2410/01

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(21 August 2001)

Subject: Implementation of Directive 98/5/EC in Spain

Directive 98/5/EC (1) to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member
State other than that in which the qualification was obtained was required, pursuant to Article 16 of the
directive, to be transposed into national law in the Member States by not later than 14 March 2000.

To my knowledge, that has not yet happened in Spain.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

2.

Is it correct that this directive has not yet been transposed in Spain or in other Member States, and, if
that is the case, what is the reason?

Should that be the case, what does the Commission intend to do to ensure that this directive is
transposed?

(1) OJ L 77, 14.3.1998, p. 36.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2001)

Directive 98/5/EC (1) on the practice of the profession of lawyer has been transposed in Spain by
1.
Royal Decree 936/2001 of 3 August 2001, published in Boletin Oficial del Estado No 186 of 4 August
2001. It has not yet been transposed in Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and
Portugal. In Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal bills are before Parliament. There can be
no justification for not keeping to the deadline laid down in the Directive.

The Commission has commenced the infringement proceedings provided for

in Article 226
2.
(ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty against these Member States and will pursue them to the extent necessary.

(1) Directive 98/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 to facilitate practice of the
profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member State other than that in which the qualification was
obtained (OJ L 77, 14.3.1998).

(2002/C 40 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2419/01

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Falsification of statistical data in Greece

(3 September 2001)

Economic and social policy-makers in the European Union attach special importance to statistical data to
acquire an accurate picture of the situation, to make comparisons between Member States, to monitor
progress and to draw up guidelines.

This policy depends therefore on the consistency and reliability of the Member States(cid:146) statistical services.

What action does the Commission intend to take vis-(cid:224)-vis Greece where, in addition to the frequent delays
and shortcomings in the gathering of statistical data on employment and unemployment among men and
women, the National Statistics Service has recently been accused of falsifying data in this area?

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/245

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 2001)

The main source of statistical data on employment and unemployment in Greece is the labour force
survey, which each Member State has to conduct pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 on the
organisation of a labour force sample survey in the Community (1).

Greece supplied its most recent quarterly data to Eurostat six months later than stipulated by the
Regulation (results relating to the third quarter of 2000 forwarded in June 2001). The quality checks
carried out by Eurostat do not indicate any particular anomaly in these results.

If necessary, under Article 3(6) of the above-mentioned Regulation, the Commission may require Member
States to provide detailed information on the criteria adopted for the design and size of the sample.

(1) OJ L 77, 14.3.1998.

(2002/C 40 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2445/01

by Carlos Carnero GonzÆlez (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Rules on the use of water scooters and guaranteeing bathers(cid:146) safety

The use of water scooters on Spanish beaches and along the coast this summer has resulted in a number
of serious accidents, involving several fatalities and quite a number of injuries.

Public opinion is understandably alarmed, since there are serious doubts as to whether any national
legislation fully and effectively guarantees the safety of both users and bathers. Moreover, the renting and
use of water scooters is common practice throughout the Union, particularly in countries where there is
large-scale summer seaside tourism. Does any relevant Community legislation on these vehicles exist?

If so, how is it applied?

If not, does the Commission intend to develop such legislation as a matter of urgency, with a view to its
introduction before next year(cid:146)s tourist season, so as to avoid a repetition of what happened this summer,
and guarantee the safety of all those enjoying seaside holidays?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

legislation. There is no Community
The use of jet-skis in the Community is regulated by national
legislation in this area and there are no plans to introduce Community measures in relation to the
conditions of such use.

As regards rules for the construction of this type of craft, in October 2000 the Commission presented a
proposal for a Directive of the Parliament and of the Council modifying Directive 94/25/EC on the
approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to
recreational craft (1). This proposal is currently under discussion in the Parliament and the Council. It seeks
to lay down essential safety requirements for the construction of jet-skis, as well as exhaust and noise
emission requirements for all recreational marine engines, including the engines on jet-skis. The purpose of
this proposal is to enhance the effective operation of the internal market while ensuring a high level of
environmental and safety standards.

(1) OJ C 62 E, 27.2.2001.