WRITTEN QUESTION E-0461/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Closure of Ellinikon Airport in Athens.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Greece, airport, cessation of trading, competence of the Member States

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

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Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs? What view does it take of this matter? What measures
does it propose should be taken both in Greece and in other countries facing the same problem? Does it
intend to propose that strict measures be adopted in those countries responsible for this cross-border
ozone pollution to induce them to reduce their emissions? If the Commission draws up a new Community
directive demanding a further reduction in ozone emissions in the EU countries, will it take into account
the problem of the cross-border movement of ozone?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2002)

The Commission is aware that Greece suffers from very high ozone levels, particularly in the Athens area.
While transboundary pollution certainly contributes to the background level, exceedances are to a large
extent due to local sources (mainly traffic and industry) combined with the climate and topography of the
region., as evidenced by Community supported research since several years
(Medcaphot project,
Atmospheric Environment, vol 32, No 12 June 1998).

Ozone pollution is a persistent problem throughout the Community, and is therefore one of the main
focuses of the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) programme launched by the Commission in 2001. This will
lead to an integrated thematic strategy to combat air pollution in 2004.

The Commission also works closely with the United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air pollution and has submitted a proposal for the Community
to accede to the 1999 Multi-Effects, Multi-Pollutant Protocol under that Convention, which sets national
emission ceilings for countries in the UN/ECE region. The Council and Parliament also adopted last
autumn a directive (1) setting stricter national emission ceilings (NEC) for Member States, and is currently
negotiating correspondingly stricter ceilings for the accession candidate countries. Both the Protocol and
the NEC Directive cover nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which give rise to ozone
pollution.

Finally, the Council and Parliament earlier this year adopted directive 2002/3/EC (2) setting target values for
levels of ozone in ambient air, to be attained by 2010 ‘save where not achievable through proportionate
measures’.

(1) Directive 2001/81/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for

certain atmospheric pollutants, OJ L 309, 27.11.2001.

(2) Directive 2002/3/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air,

OJ L 67, 9.3.2002.

(2003/C 28 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0461/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Closure of Ellinikon Airport in Athens

The new Athens airport at Spata began operating recently, and in the meantime the Greek authorities have
decided to close Ellinikon Airport which previously served Athens. This decision raises many questions, for
example: what would happen in an emergency if Spata Airport were closed, since no alternative airport
would be available? Recently, this scenario actually occurred and Spata Airport was closed due to heavy
snowfall, and many flights had to be cancelled, causing hardship for hundreds of citizens.

According to Greek press reports, the closure of Ellinikon Airport will create many problems, for example
Olympic Airways is unable to move to Spata Airport, the EKAV (national emergency care centre) air
transport system is in disarray and private aviation schools are facing enormous difficulties. As the

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President of the Federation of Pilots and Aircraft Owners has said, ‘Closing Ellinikon Airport will not only
cause problems for pilot training, it will destroy it completely …’.

What is the Commission’s view about the closure of Ellinikon Airport? Did the Greek authorities consult it
before closing this airport? Is it aware of any other instances in other EU countries in which the opening
of a new airport has led to the closing of an existing one? Which EU capitals have more than one airport?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2002)

Decisions on the construction and development of airport infrastructure as well as the allocation of public
funds among airports of a Member State, fall under the responsibility of the authorities of that Member
State. Similarly, decisions on the closure of an airport are also the responsibility of the national authorities
concerned. The Commission is therefore not in a position to comment on the closing down of Hellinikon
airport.

The Commission was not consulted by the Greek authorities before they took the decision to close
Hellinikon airport. There was no obligation or need for the Greek authorities to do so.

The old ‘Riem’ airport of Munich, Germany, was closed down in 1992 when the new ‘Erding’ airport was
opened.

The capitals within the Union which are served by more than one airport are Berlin (Schoenefeld, Tegel,
Tempelhof), Paris (Charles de Gaulle, Orly), Rome (Fiumicino, Ciampino, Urbe), Stockholm (Arlanda,
Bromma, Skavsta) and London (City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted).

(2003/C 28 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0473/02

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Community-related aspects of savings banks

(22 February 2002)

Savings banks are a highly important financial
economic aspects of their activities tiesus of debate.

instrument in the European Union and the social and

The recent complaint made to the European Union by a German private bank concerning the public aid
given to savings banks and the way in which this can distort competition has highlighted the need to
identify the public or private role to be played by savings banks and determine their position within the
Union’s financial framework.

Will the Commission say whether there has been a Community declaration of principle on savings banks
in the various Member States, under what circumstances a savings bank is deemed to be public for
European purposes and whether it feels the time is right to promote the introduction of a single set of
rules as a framework for savings banks to pursue their business without interfering in the activities of
private banking institutions?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2002)

The European Banking Federation filed on 21 December 1999 a complaint with the Commission against
the State guarantees Anstaltslast and Gewährträgerhaftung in favour of German public banks, amongst
which German savings banks. On 8 May 2001,
the Commission adopted a recommendation of
appropriate measures in order to adapt this existing aid scheme to comply with the State aid rules of the
EC Treaty, which the German government accepted on 18.7.2001.