WRITTEN QUESTION E-3096/01 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Implementation of directives on health and safety at the workplace.
Date: 2001-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, application of EU law, complaint to the Commission, explosive, national implementing measure, occupational health, occupational safety, protective equipment

C 115 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3095/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Prostitution networks

The recent exposure of a prostitution network in Greece has revealed how they operate through
unrestricted use of advertisements in the daily press, and the vast profits made by those involved. The
Greek press reports that these criminal gangs have an annual ‘turnover’ of Drs 20 billion, while illegal
immigrants operating in Greece in cooperation with Greek criminals have set up latter-day slave-markets
of girls whom they ‘import’ into Greece for between Drs 300 000 and 1 million each, keep in sordid flats
or hotel rooms and offer for prostitution through the so-called ‘pink advertisements’ in the daily press.

What action does the Commission intend to take to stamp out these degrading ‘pink advertisements’?
What, in its view, are the effects of such crude advertisements on the minds of young people who read
them in the newspapers and magazines which come into every home? Is it legally possible to prohibit the
publication in the daily press of advertisements with content degrading to women?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

The Honourable Member refers to the recent exposure of a prostitution network in Greece and the fact
that the advertising of prostitution is allowed in the Greek press. The Commission wishes to inform the
Honourable Member that it does not intend to make proposals in this field at the current time.

In the absence of cross-border implications of such national press advertising services, it is for Member
States to determine how to regulate such advertising in their national press taking due consideration of the
protection of minors. The need to regulate advertising to account for the protection of minors has been
recognised by the Commission in Directive 97/36/EC of the Parliament of the Council of 30 June 1997
amending Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law,
regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting
activities (1). This text requires Member States to regulate advertising on TV broadcast services falling under
their jurisdiction in such a manner that it shall not cause moral or physical detriment to minors.

(1) OJ L 202, 30.7.1997.

(2002/C 115 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3096/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Implementation of directives on health and safety at the workplace

To what extent are the following directives observed in Greece:

> 89/391/EEC (1) on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health

of workers at work,

> 89/654/EEC (2) concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace,

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> 89/656/EEC (3) concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use by workers of

personal protective equipment at the workplace, and

> 1999/92/EEC (4) on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers

potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres?

Has Greece taken the implementing measures required to comply with each of the above directives? If so,
are they correctly applied? If not, have proceedings been initiated for infringement of Community
legislation and what stage has been reached in those proceedings for each separate directive?

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989, p. 18.
(4) OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 57.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

Directives 89/391/EEC (1), 89/654/EEC (2), 89/656/EEC (2) have been implemented in Greek national law,
and the implementation measures have been notified to the Commission. Transposition of the Community
Directives by the legislation notified has been found to be satisfactory. As far as Directive 1999/92/EC (3) is
is 30 June 2003, which means that
concerned, the transposition deadline set down in Article 13(1)
Member States are under no obligation to adopt implementing measures before this date.

The correct application of national health and safety measures adopted to transpose the Community
Directives is the responsibility of the Member States. In this context, the Commission would draw the
Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that a complaint has recently been lodged concerning the
application of the Directives on the health and safety of workers in Greece.

The Commission will take all appropriate measures in connection with this complaint and may,
appropriate, initiate infringement proceedings concerning the Directives in question.

if

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.
(3) OJ L 23, 28.1.2000.

(2002/C 115 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3101/01

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE), Niels Busk (ELDR),
Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE), Albert Maat (PPE-DE), Catherine Stihler (PSE),
Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR), Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE), James Nicholson (PPE-DE),
Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) and Neil Parish (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Haddock fishing

What steps will the Commission take to prevent any further wanton destruction of juvenile haddock, given
that Danish fishing inspectors last month discovered 114 tonnes of young haddock in a 543- tonne catch
of a Danish industrial fishing vessel?