WRITTEN QUESTION E-3040/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Total of repayments required of Greece under the EAGGF.
Date: 2001-10-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF Guarantee Section, EU financing, European accounting system, Greece, budgetary discipline (EU), closing of accounts, redemption

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/183

Has the Council, and in particular the Belgian authorities, granted Yasser Al Siri political refugee status? Do
they not consider it necessary, as part of the campaign against terrorism, to ensure more effective and
extensive monitoring of
the activities of all organisations, whether secular or religious, which use
indoctrination and proselytising methods to further terrorist activities?

Reply

(12 February 2002)

Following the events of 11 September 2001 the Council has adopted a plan of action involving
67 measures. With regard to the security measures, attention is drawn to the strengthening of cooperation
between the heads of anti-terrorist units,
the strengthening of cooperation between anti-terrorist
magistrates, the drawing up of early warning plans and the strengthening of external border checks.

Of particular interest is the request to the Commission to establish a network for information exchanges
concerning visas issued and to ensure an improved input of alerts into the Schengen Information System.

Attention is given as a matter of priority to the identification of terrorists present in Europe and to the
organisations that support them, with the aim of drawing up a common list of terrorist organisations.
Under the Council’s supervision, the measures are being implemented.

(2002/C 134 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3040/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Total of repayments required of Greece under the EAGGF

(30 October 2001)

What is the total amount of the corrections (repayments) required of Greece for each of the last four years
under the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 8 Guarantee Section, and for what
reasons?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2001)

A table is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat setting out details of the
corrections applied to Greece in the years 1997 to 2000 in the framework of the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). Definitive figures for the financial year 2001 are not presently
available.

The corrections fall into two categories:

8 Definitive corrections, such as those relating to the financial consequences of the clearance of accounts
decisions which arise as a result of weaknesses in the Member States control systems leading to a
financial risk to the Fund.

8 Corrections under Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2040/2000 of 26 September 2000 on
budgetary discipline (1), which are provisional in nature and subject to confirmation in the framework
of the Decisions on the clearance of accounts referred to under point 1 above.

Such corrections include three significant areas:

8 Reductions for failure to apply the integrated management and control system within the statutory

deadlines.

C 134 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

8 Reductions for failure to collect the total supplementary milk levy due within the statutory deadlines.
Amounts collected by the Member State after the deadline and declared to the EAGGF are refunded.

8 Reductions for non respect of deadlines set down in the Regulations for payments to beneficiaries.

(1) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000.

(2002/C 134 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3041/01

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 October 2001)

Subject: Use of new technology in Greece

A report published by the Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE), which
incorporates data from the Commission, Eurostat and other major international organisations, notes that
the rate at which new technology is being introduced in Greece is extremely slow.

In 1999, only 6 Greeks in 100 owned a computer when the Community average was 25. Not only did
Greece rank bottom in the Union, it also lagged behind applicant countries such as Poland and the Czech
Republic. According to the OECD,
in 1998 Greece also took last place in the Union for per capita
investment in research, while on-line banking represents a barely perceptible percentage of total banking
transactions at just above zero. The use of computers is also negligible in primary and secondary
education. The Commission puts the figure at zero for the primary level, while the rate of use at secondary
level is simply the lowest in the Union.

What are the Commission’s views on these disheartening figures for the use of new technologies and their
applications in Greece? Has it identified the reasons for this deplorable situation? Is the Commission
the Community funds given to Greece (Community Support Frameworks, other
satisfied that all
Community initiatives, etc.) have been spent in the most effective and transparent manner to achieve
convergence?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2001)

The statistical data published in the area of Member State expenditure on research and development as
well as on expenditure on the integration of the information society are a reflection of a more general
phenomenon at EU level, involving, more particularly, a slowness on the part of Member States to derive
greater benefits from technological
listed in order of
importance 8 the following may be cited: rigidity of the economic and social structures, rigidity of the
labour market, existence of significant macro-economic imbalances resulting in a weak economic
environment, and the absence of major direct foreign investment.

innovation. Among the causes 8 albeit not

As regards Member State attempts to promote the integration of the information society, the Commission
feels that the latest Eurobarometer survey results indicate that the Member State in question has made a
major effort to move closer to the Community average. A number of further initiatives still need to be
taken at national level to ensure the integration of technological change in the country. For this reason, the
Commission is supporting the Information Society programme launched by the Member State under the
Structural Funds. This programme seeks to promote the same aims as the eEurope Action Plan, viz.
cheaper, faster and more secure Internet access, promotion of Internet use, and investment in people and
skills.