WRITTEN QUESTION E-3278/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Problems in the financing budget for the construction of Kyllini spa in Greece.
Date: 2001-11-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Greece, financial management, public works

C 205 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

Regarding excise duty rates, the Commission maintains its view that, in the longer term, the convergence
of duty rates would be beneficial to the smooth working of the Internal Market. However, the present
Community legislation only fixes minimum rates, and the determination of national excise rates on alcohol
and tobacco products, above the Community minimum rates, remains a matter for Member States to
decide.

(1) OJ L 76, 23.3.1992.

(2002/C 205 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3160/01

by Jannis Sakellariou (PSE) to the Council

(23 November 2001)

Subject: Motor vehicle tax

A German who works in Munich and lives in Hungary regularly commutes by car between the two
countries.

Each country, not to mention Austria as the country of transit, imposes different, sometimes contradictory,
motor vehicle registration requirements in terms of administrating tax and customs rules, generating severe
organisational problems and additional costs for the person concerned.

Does the Council intend, in the foreseeable future, to conclude agreements within the EU and vis-à-vis the
applicant countries which provide for recognition of the respective national rules?

Reply

(13 May 2002)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that, as Community law stands at present, Directives
83/182/EEC and 83/183/EEC regulate the question of the taxation of passenger motor vehicles when there
is a permanent or temporary transfer to a Member State other than that in which the vehicle is registered.

Negotiations currently under way with the candidate countries envisage that those countries will apply the
‘acquis communautaire’, of which the two Directives mentioned above form part, once they have acceded
to the Community.

(2002/C 205 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3278/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 November 2001)

Subject: Problems in the financing budget for the construction of Kyllini spa in Greece

In a letter dated 10 June 1998 from its Directorate-General XVI to the General Secretary of the Greek
Tourist Board, the Commission refers to problems which had arisen in the financing budget for the
construction of Kyllini spa. Funding for the project
from the Integrated
Mediterranean Programme for the Peloponnese, while for the 1989-1993 period it was funded under the
operational programme for tourism and for the 1994-1999 period under the operational programme for
tourism and culture. Although project construction has been completed, it is not in operation.

initially came,

in 1988,

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/27

As mentioned in the above letter from the Commission, the project involves complicated calculations,
which are difficult to understand. For this reason, the Commission intended to examine the costs of the
project right from the start of its funding. However, I am informed that the Commission has not yet
carried out this examination.

1. What kind of complexities are involved in the calculations for this project’s construction budget?

2. Why has the Commission not examined the costs, as it originally intended to do?

3. Why has this project not yet been operational?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2002)

Construction of the Kyllini spa centre was begun in the 1970s using national funds by EOT, the Greek
public tourism body, which built the structure of the building and a waste-water drainage system.

The complexity of the expenditure connected with Community part-financing for this project arises from
the number of sources of aid spread over several programming periods.

the

period

During
of
GRD 1 028 071 979 under the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes to complete work on the centre.
Supplementary aid of GRD 733 337 205 was approved to reinforce the structure of the building as a result
of the earthquake which took place in the region.

approved Community

the Commission

part-financing

1986-1992,

During the 1989-1993 programming period, Community part-financing of GRD 1 040 000 000 was
in order to
granted under priority 4 (bridge projects) of the Community support framework (CSF)
construct the operational phase of the centre.

The project then received Community part-financing of GRD 2 368 833 076 under the Tourism and
Culture operational programme of the CSF for 1994-1999 in order to complete work on the spa in
general. The building has a total area of 12 748m2 and can receive up to 6 500 people per day.

The Commission decided to await closure of the operational programme under which the last part-
financing was approved in order to have an overview of all the aid granted. When it examines that final
report, which the Greek authorities must send no later than 30 June 2002, the Commission will check
both the financial and economic data of this project and will decide what measures to take if the centre is
not still operational.

(2002/C 205 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3335/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 November 2001)

Subject: The arrest of Mohamed Nasheed, MP, in the Maldives on 8 October 2001

Is the Commission aware of reports that Mohamed Nasheed, a Member of Parliament in Malé, Republic of
Maldives, and a human rights activist, was arrested on 8 October 2001 without any clear reason being
given.

Would the Commission consider asking the Maldives Government to indicate the exact reason for
Mohamed Nasheed’s arrest and the charges, if any, that have been brought against him?