WRITTEN QUESTION E-2584/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Risk of losing resources from the third CSF in Greece.
Date: 2001-09-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, Greece, Structural Funds, eligibility criteria, fund (EU)

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/167

(2002/C 93 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2584/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Risk of losing resources from the third CSF in Greece

(24 September 2001)

According to reports in the Greek press, Greece is at risk of losing resources from the third CSF because of
agencies’ shortcomings in adjusting to stringent preconditions for efficient and successful use of resources.
It is indicative that, of the 275 projects submitted by local authorities throughout the country for approval
and funding by the Cohesion Fund, the 13 regional authorities responsible preselected 106, of which only
30 projects will finally be submitted for the approval of the appropriate Community bodies, since the
remainder did not meet the eligibility requirements specified by the new regulations.

Could the Commission say whether it is possible that Greece may lose these appropriations through
inability to make use of them? In its opinion, are the local agencies really to blame for not being able to
meet the newly prescribed eligibility requirements?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The Commission welcomes the effort made by the Greek government for improved management of
projects and programmes co-financed by funds of the Community. This is reflected in the press reports to
which the Honourable Member refers.

A more rigorous approach for project selection and implementation has been introduced, both for the
Structural Funds and for the Cohesion Fund, for the programming period 2000-2006.

The year 2001 is a transitional year for the establishment and operation of the new structures and
procedures, which are expected to be fully operational by 2002.

Both the Greek government and the Commission recognise the need to reinforce the management capacity
of local and departmental authorities and administrations, and the Community support framework for the
2000-2006 period provides for actions in this regard.

(2002/C 93 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590/01

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 September 2001)

Subject: Wine growing in mountain areas

There are no Community documents, other than the recent Ebner report on mountain farming, which
provide a definition of ‘wine growing in mountain areas’. This is surprising, given the specific nature of
wine-growing problems in European mountain areas and the need for Community law to take account of
these aspects, especially the amount of work and extra cost
involved in maintaining this type of
agriculture, which is essential to the protection of the countryside in particularly sensitive areas.

What does the Commission intend to do and what proposals will it put forward to support wine growing
in mountain areas?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2001)

Given the need to simplify the Common agricultural policy (CAP), it has not been judged necessary to set
up a specific tool to address the specific problems of mountain vineyards.