WRITTEN QUESTION E-3199/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Progress of projects connected to the Olympic Games.
Date: 2001-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Greece, Community support framework, EU aid, Olympic games, Structural Funds, town planning

C 147 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

(2002/C 147 E/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3199/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Progress of projects connected to the Olympic Games

(20 November 2001)

The Commission is funding a number of projects relating to the quality of life and culture which are
connected to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. As far as the quality of life is concerned, these projects
include the Underground, projects to ease traffic congestion in Athens and others which are still at the
planning stage, such as the tram and the suburban railway projects. In the cultural field, these include
projects to integrate archaeological sites. Will
the Commission say where problems have arisen in
completing these projects?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2002)

The Greek authorities sent to the Commission on 13 September 2001 a list of the most important projects
which they consider related to the 2004 Olympic Games and which are proposed for inclusion in
operational programmes under the Community support framework for the 2000-2006 programming
period.

The Commission sent a letter to those authorities on 25 October 2001, informing them that it will keep
close contacts with the managing authorities and offer every support needed in order to help the Greek
authorities to reach the targets set for the completion of these works.

The Commission also pointed out that the contracts related to the suburban railway and the tramway
projects had not yet been concluded and that every effort would need to be made to accelerate these
projects in particular. The Commission will have regular contacts to that end in the coming months with
the managing authorities concerned. It should be remembered however that, within the terms of Council
regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural funds (1),
the project planning and execution are the Member States’ entire responsibility.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 147 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3200/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: Implementation of the programme of integrated interventions for combating unemployment in

Greece

The programme of integrated interventions which is funded by the European Union seeks to place 3 000
unemployed persons in employment for 28 months in the Prefecture of Ioannina in an initial period, and
the programme is then expected to be extended to other prefectures in Greece. A public body, the
Organisation for the Employment of the Workforce, has undertaken the task of recruiting and placing the
job-seekers. According to available national statistics, the number of registered unemployed persons in the
Prefecture of Ioannina far exceeds the number of jobs subsidised by the programme.

Have specific criteria been adopted for the selection of the unemployed who have been < or will

1.
be < recruited, and what are these criteria?

Is so, how is it ensuring that the Organisation for the Employment of the Workforce complies with

2.
and implements these criteria?

3. Which other prefectures will the programme be extended to?