WRITTEN QUESTION E-0462/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)and Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Problems relating to set-aside in Greece.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Greece, agricultural land, common agricultural policy, management audit, set-aside

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/199

been ineffective in raising the cultural level of Greek people, which was supposed to be one of the basic
reasons for the establishment of the EPS in the first place. There have been very many instances in which
slanderous and indecent programmes have been broadcast, and there is a feeling that the television and
radio frequencies are the personal property of businessmen of every kind (some have connections with the
media while others have none whatsoever) who use these frequencies as they see fit.

Can the Commission say how many " and which " EU countries have radio and television broadcasting
councils? What precisely is their field of activity? Does any Community legislation exist on this matter?
Who owns the television and radio frequencies in each Member State? What sanctions have radio and
television broadcasting councils in other EU Member States imposed for violations of the code of conduct?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 2002)

The relevant Community legislation is Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 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) as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of
the Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 (2)
(Television without Frontiers). This Directive
provides in Article 3(2) that Member States shall, by appropriate means, ensure, within the framework of
their legislation, that television broadcasters under their jurisdiction effectively comply with the provisions
of the Directive. It does not include specific obligation regarding the organisation of national media
authorities, which are therefore not monitored specifically by the Commission.

The Commission nevertheless cooperates closely with EPRA, the European platform of broadcasting
regulatory authorities. Detailed information on the organisation of broadcasting regulatory authorities
which are members of EPRA are available from its website http://www.epra.org. Regarding Luxembourg,
the only Member State where no regulatory organisation is a member of EPRA, information is available on
the following site: http://www.gouvernement.lu/gouv/fr/sip/media/encadrem/sma.html.

(1) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989.
(2) OJ L 202, 30.7.1997.

(2002/C 172 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0462/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)
and Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Problems relating to set-aside in Greece

On 17 January 2002 thirty Members of the Greek Parliament tabled a topical question to the Ministry of
Agriculture in which they drew attention to the host of problems relating to the programme for the long-
term set-aside of agricultural land (Regulation (EC) 2078/92) (1).

Will the Commission say how many " and which " prefectures took part in this programme, what were
" in the view of the Commission services " the results of this participation, whether the restitution of the
subsidies provided within the framework of this programme is being considered " or has already been
requested " and what were precisely the irregularities identified by the Commission during the
implementation of this programme in Greece? What specific responsibility does the Greek Ministry of
Agriculture have for the irregularities in the management of the programme alleged by the Greek Members
of Parliament?

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 85.

C 172 E/200

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

The Commission is aware of the difficulties in implementing the long-term set-aside programme in Greece
under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods
compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the
countryside (1). On 9 January 2002 it sent a letter to the Greek authorities asking for full checks on all the
beneficiaries and a detailed report on the matter,
including information on any penalties imposed or
planned. The Commission also intends to make its own inspection visit.

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(2002/C 172 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0466/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Assessment of the operation of the EAGGF paying agency in Greece

In September 2001 it was announced that the new agency for paying and controlling Community
guidance and guarantee aid in Greece (Opekepe) was beginning work and replacing the Paying Agency
accredited hitherto (Gedidagep).

Given the problems that have arisen in the current period in almost all the spheres of responsibility of the
Opekepe (delays in the payment of aid, mistakes and omissions in the IACS (Integrated Administration and
Control System), arbitrary interpretations in implementing the regulations, etc.) which have caused great
confusion and exasperated Greek producers and stock breeders and also raised questions about the
credibility of controls, will the Commission say: has any assessment been carried out concerning the
operation of the Opekepe so far? Have the Commission services investigated whether the accreditation
criteria and, more generally, all the conditions provided for in Regulation (EC) 1663/95 (1) have been met?

(1) OJ L 158, 8.7.1995, p. 6.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2002)

Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common
agricultural policy (1) makes clear that Member States are responsible for accrediting paying agencies. The
Commission is only informed of the decisions of the Member States.

Nevertheless, the Commission has closely followed the developments in Greece, and the establishment of a
new paying agency, Opekepe,
in September 2001. It carried out an evaluation of the respect of the
accreditation criteria by this paying agency in November 2001. This evaluation identified a number of
positive points, but also noted that many weaknesses remained, both in the organisation of the paying
agency and in the overall control system in Greece.

The Commission is continuing to monitor the situation closely. It will work constructively with the Greek
authorities to try to ensure that the positive efforts noted continue and come to fruition. However, at the
same time, it will protect the financial interests of the Community by proposing financial corrections
wherever it identifies a risk of loss to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Such
financial corrections have in the case of Greece totalled € 610 million since 1995.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.