WRITTEN QUESTION E-2201/02 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Failure to implement Directive 89/48/EEC in practice.
Date: 2002-07-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, Greece, engineer, infringement of EU law, infringement procedure (EU), national implementing measure, professional qualifications, recognition of diplomas

C 192 E/54

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

it is up to the Member States to ensure that the national provisions transposing these
Nevertheless,
directives are properly monitored and supervised so that the preventive policy which they prescribe
actually contributes to reducing the number of accidents and occupational diseases in the maritime sector.

As regards more effective prevention of accidents at work, and with a view to enhancing this policy, the
Commission would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the new Community strategy on health
and safety at work 2002-2006, which was recently adopted by the Commission in its communication of
11 March 2002 (7). This new strategy, which takes a global approach to well-being in the workplace, takes
as its basis the creation of a more firmly established risk-prevention culture, a combination of various
social
policy tools
responsibility of firms, economic incentives) and the building of partnerships between all parties involved
in health and safety.

social dialogue, development and identification of best practices,

(legislation,

With respect to the fisheries sector in particular, the Commission intends, also as part of this new strategy,
to call on the social partners to identify measures aimed at improving living and working conditions and
safety in the fisheries sector, enhancing the role of women and helping to increase employment, especially
among young people, in regions dependent on this sector.

All the measures described seek to reinforce the Commission’s policy of bringing up to date and improving
health and safety provision for workers at work, particularly those working on board Community fishing
vessels. This should all make a significant contribution to reducing the number of workplace accidents in
this sector.

Finally, given the fact that, according to the special ‘health and safety’ module of the 1999 LFS (8), fishing
constitutes one of the most dangerous economic activities with a relative incidence of 243 % compared
with the European average (9), the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work is currently developing
an information system to improve health and safety in this sector and provide information on good
practices

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.
(3) OJ L 156, 21.6.1990.
(4) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.
(5) OJ L 335, 30.12.1995.
(6) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992.
(7) COM(2002) 118 final.
(8) LFS = Community labour force survey conducted by Eurostat pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1571/98

of 20 July 1998 (cid:1) OJ C 205, 22.7.1998.

(9) See Statistics in focus (cid:1) Theme 3: Population and social conditions, No 16/2002, p. 6.

(2003/C 192 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2201/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Failure to implement Directive 89/48/EEC in practice

(22 July 2002)

Greek engineering graduates who are already registered with the Technical Chambers of European Union
Member States, such as Italy, Germany and others, have received recognition of their professional diplomas
from the Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Diplomas under Directive 89/48/EEC (1). These
engineers wish to become members of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), which is a precondition for
pursuing their profession in Greece and being insured by the appropriate insurance body. This is, however,
not possible, since Greek law 1486/84 requires academic equivalence as well as professional equivalence
for registration with the TEE. Thus, in spite of the fact that two years have passed since the publication of
Presidential Decree 165/2000, transposing Directive 89/48/EEC into Greek law, these engineers are unable
to pursue their profession. Will the Commission take steps to ensure that the above directive is correctly
implemented and that Greek legislation complies with it?

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989, p. 16.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2002)

The question asked by the Honourable Member gives rise to the following comments:

(cid:1) the Commission is aware that the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) refuses to register engineers
who have obtained their professional qualifications in another Member State on the basis of the
professional
recognition granted in application of Presidential Decree 165/2000, and makes
registration conditional upon academic recognition of their diplomas. This requirement does not
comply with Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the
recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and
training of at least three years’ duration (1), and is one of the objections raised as part of the
infringement procedure initiated against Greece on account of its incorrect transposition and wrong
application of Directive 89/48/EEC;

(cid:1) for more detailed information on the infringement procedure under way, which led to Greece being
sent a reasoned opinion on 1 July 2002, the Honourable Member may wish to refer to the answer
given by the Commission to Written Question E-1691/02 by Mr Papayannakis (2).

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.
(2) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 210.

(2003/C 192 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2211/02

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 July 2002)

Subject: Growth and Stability Pact

A German newspaper has revealed that the Commission apparently intends to impose stiff penalties on
Portugal for failing to remain within the 3 % budget deficit ceiling established under the Growth and
Stability Pact.

the College of Commissioners has already denied any such intention,

the
Although a member of
importance and the seriousness of the situation (cid:1) together with the lack of any recognised scientific basis
for such a ceiling (cid:1) prompt the following question: Does the Commission not think that, on account of
the obvious harmful effects of such a ceiling and the difficulties of remaining within it (particularly in the
case of the economically weakest Member States and at a time of lower-than-expected economic growth),
the requirement to remain within the ceiling should to some extent be relaxed?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2002)

Fiscal discipline contributes to maintaining an economic environment in which monetary policy can
(as
effectively pursue price stability. The fiscal
established by the Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP)) aims at combining budgetary discipline
with budgetary flexibility through essentially two requirements. These are firstly the requirement for the
general government deficit to remain below 3 % of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (except in exceptional
to achieve and maintain a budgetary
and temporary circumstances) and, secondly, the requirement
position ‘close to balance or in surplus’ over the cycle.

framework of Economy and Monetary Union (EMU)

Compliance with these two requirements both secures fiscal discipline and the sustainability of public
finances and allows for flexibility in the conduct of national budgetary policies by ensuring the necessary
the automatic stabilisers.
room for manoeuvre for cyclical
Furthermore, the EMU budgetary rules and procedures provide incentives, and create the scope, to refocus
the attention of budgetary policies towards medium-term concerns such as economic growth, employment
and social cohesion. Finally, the SGP enhances the predictability and transparency of fiscal policies and
facilitates the co-ordination of fiscal policies between Member States. In brief, sound public finances is in
the economic interest of all countries.

stabilisation through the working of