WRITTEN QUESTION E-0256/02 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. Funding for disability projects.
Date: 2002-02-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, disabled person, financing, social policy, welfare

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/205

The direct comparison of prices over time is indeed the means by which consumers primarily assess price
movements. The Commission recommended the dual display of prices in October 2000. Since then, this
has been very widely applied, either by law (it is compulsory in Greece, Austria and Portugal) or de facto
(large distribution networks, for example, systematically display the two prices throughout the eurozone).

The Commission asked the participating Member States to convert public-sector charges to the euro in a
manner which was neutral or to the benefit of taxpayers, and they agreed to this request. As regards
parking charges, CBS confirmed an increase in parking charges of 8,4 % in the January 2002 HICP. In
general, the prices for the sub-index in question have been increasing much faster than the Dutch all-items
index since 1998 and most of the price increases typically take place in January.

Legislation exists in some Member States (e.g: Luxembourg or Austria) allowing action to be taken against
excessive price increases. The Commission and especially the European Central Bank (ECB), which was
assigned the objective of ensuring price stability by the EC Treaty, will monitor the trend in inflation very
closely.

(2002/C 160 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0256/02

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 February 2002)

Subject: Funding for disability projects

Does the Commission know what percentage of EU development project money is spent on disability
projects?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2002)

There are no Community programmes which provide funding exclusively for disability projects. The
Commission’s general approach is to ensure that all relevant Community actions are open to this type of
project. This means that funding to help people with disabilities is granted under the Structural Funds and
as part of programmes in the field of employment and social inclusion or in areas such as research and
development, education, training and EU external policies.

However, there are no data which may be used to calculate the percentage of funding related to these
actions which is spent exclusively on assisting people with disabilities. Nevertheless, the Commission has
begun a study, which should produce results by 2002, in order to obtain further information on the
various groups receiving support from the European Social Fund (ESF).

(2002/C 160 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0275/02

by Jannis Sakellariou (PSE) to the Commission

(8 February 2002)

Subject: Recognition of a German medical specialist qualification in Corfu, Greece

Following a decision of 13 October 2000 by the Greek Ministry of Health in Athens (No Y9a/6376) the
sonography certificate of a fully qualified gynaecologist trained in Germany is not immediately recognised
in Greece. The specialist first has to study for a further six months in a clinic before taking another
examination. Does this comply with EU directives?