WRITTEN QUESTION E-2627/02 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Problems with implementation of environmental programmes.
Date: 2002-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Greece, environmental policy, operational programme, project management, support policy

C 70 E/6

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

if the Honourable Member has a particular case in mind he is invited to put it to the
Meanwhile,
Commission, with any relevant accompanying material, so that further assistance can be given with
clarification.

(1) The Convention defining the statute of the European Schools entered into force on 1st October, 2002, the first day
of the month following the deposit of all instruments of ratification by the Member States and of the acts notifying
conclusion by the European Communities (Article 33 of the Convention).

(2004/C 70 E/005)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2627/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Problems with implementation of environmental programmes

(18 September 2002)

A report drawn up by the Economic and Social Committee in Greece notes that it is doubtful whether
Greece is able to utilise the appropriations for the operational programme on the environment or to
implement programmes which will be sustainable once their funding has expired.

1. What difficulties has the Commission identified in regard to the implementation of environmental
programmes and what are their causes?

2.

Is there a risk that Community funds for environmental programmes will be discontinued?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2002)

The difficulties inherent in launching the operational programme (OP) for the environment stem
1.
from the time required to establish a managing authority, the time required to comply with the national
administrative procedures in force and the complexity of the projects proposed for part-financing under
this OP.

At the meeting of the Monitoring Committee for this programme held in Athens in June 2002, the Greek
authorities thought that most of these difficulties had been overcome so that implementation could go
ahead as planned.

Similar difficulties arose as regards implementation of the agri-environmental measure forming part of the
programming document for rural development in 2000-2006 under Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.

2.
In partnership with the Greek authorities, the Commission is monitoring progress of the environ-
ment OP particularly carefully in order to avoid any risk of loss of Community funds under the ‘n+2’ rule.
This rule will apply for the first time at the end of 2003 and it is too early at present to assess the
possibility of such a loss.

As regards the rural development measures part-financed by the EAGGF Guarantee Section, the risk of
losing funds requires an evaluation at the level of the Member States as a whole rather than at the level of
individual national programmes.

(2004/C 70 E/006)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2637/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Protection of forests against atmospheric pollution in Galicia (Spain)

The value of the forests of southern Europe and the risks to which they are exposed have led the European
Community to take steps to protect them against atmospheric contamination by promoting surveillance
and the study of forest ecosystems.