WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/02 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Implementation of the Community initiative Leader+ in Greece.
Date: 2002-11-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU initiative, Greece, association, hunting, rural development, silviculture

C 52 E/220

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

1. Why has Eurostat set out this proviso?

2.

For which data is ‘certain information pending or incomplete’?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2002)

1.
Eurostat publishes twice a year a press release in occasion of the two official notifications of Member
States for deficit and debt data. Eurostat inserts a footnote in its press release whenever it is not in a
position to certify the figures included in the notification due to the lack of information on certain
transactions or disagreement about their classification. This information arrived only after the press release
and is now carefully examined.

Eurostat is currently investigating the background of some transactions involving general govern-
2.
ment, in co-operation with the Greek authorities. It is expected that all outstanding issues will be settled
before the next official notification foreseen in February 2003.

(2003/C 52 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 November 2002)

Subject: Implementation of the Community initiative Leader+ in Greece

The newspaper Kathimerini reports that the Kozani development company, which was responsible for the
Greek network of the Community’s Leader initiative in the previous planning period, sent a letter to the
development companies implementing the Leader+ programme for 2000-2006, requesting them to
incorporate measures for the benefit of hunting associations in their programmes.

The aims of this proposal are:

(cid:1) ‘the development of the wildlife’ of selected areas of the country,

(cid:1) measures to be implemented in areas where hunting is not prohibited,

(cid:1) the drawing up of integrated management plans for the forest areas concerned,

(cid:1) special breeding areas for game and a register of animals caught drawn up by the hunting

associations (!),

(cid:1) training groups to develop skills, the aim being to inform hunters on matters relating to ecology,

biology of species, ecosystem management, use of guns etc.

The proposal was put forward by the Greek Hunting Confederation and signed by its president, who is
also the Director-General of the management authority for the 3rd Community Support Framework in
Greece. EUR 175 000 are required to draw up the management plans and EUR 200 000 for training for
each local Leader+ programme.

This top-down ‘sponsorship’ is contrary to the compulsory bottom-up approach required in drawing up
local programmes (Commission communication on Leader+, April 2000). At the same time, hunters are
given the right to draw up management plans for forests for which they have no competence, while the
Ministry for Agriculture has itself announced 24 management plans for forests which are to be financed
from the operational programme ‘Agricultural Development’ for 2000-2006.

6.3.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/221

the Leader+
Can the Commission say what practical measures it proposes to take to ensure that
programme is implemented without hindrance or unlawful
intervention? What does the Commission
intend to do to prevent the EU financing the same measures twice (forest management plans, seminars
etc.)
fund and the Leader+ programme from funding incompetent bodies
(the Hunting Confederation and hunting associations)?

from the same structural

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.