WRITTEN QUESTION E-0167/03 by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Healthcare of the elderly — arrangements between Member States.
Date: 2003-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, care for the elderly, elderly person, free movement of persons, health care, infringement of EU law, residence permit, social security, social security legislation

C 161 E/188

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

(2003/C 161 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0166/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Use of Community funds in the health sector in Greece

(29 January 2003)

During the debate in the Greek Parliament on the adoption of the national budget for 2003, the Greek
the Public Investment
Government produced data according to which, during implementation of
Programme in the health and welfare sector for 2002, EUR 5,9 million were granted from EU Funds for
‘Greek Government participation in the share capital of public enterprises and organisations’ and a further
EUR 11 million for ‘other expenditure’.

Does the Commission know to which enterprises and organisations those EUR 5,9 million were given?
What amount was invested per company and from which Union Fund did the resources come in each
case? Of which Community programme or initiative did these investments form part and when exactly
were they incorporated? For what expenditure were the EUR 11 million of Community appropriations
announced by the government made available?

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2003)

According to the information that the Commission has received from the Greek authorities, the amounts
concerned are payments made by these authorities to the final beneficiaries of the various projects financed
under the operational programmes of the second and third Community Support Frameworks in the area of
health.

The sum of EUR 5,9 million concerns increases in the capital of public limited companies, which are final
beneficiaries under the programmes in question. Indeed, where the final beneficiary is a public limited
company, payments are made by increasing the company’s capital. In the area of health in Greece, this
mainly concerns the Depanom limited liability company, of which the Greek State is the sole shareholder
and which is responsible for building facilities in the area of health.

The EUR 11 million allocated to other expenditure are payments made by the Greek authorities to final
beneficiaries other than public limited companies for the implementation of a large number of projects
financed by these programmes.

The Commission has asked the Greek authorities to provide a breakdown of
this expenditure by
programme and, if possible, by final beneficiary. As soon as it has received this information, it will not fail
to forward it to the Honourable Member.

(2003/C 161 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0167/03

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 January 2003)

Subject: Healthcare of the elderly (cid:1) arrangements between Member States

1.
Is it acceptable that when an elderly and ill EU resident has to relocate from one Member State (UK)
to another (Spain) in order to obtain any acceptable level of nursing care (cid:1) which should be subject to a
predetermined contribution to fee costs if the care was given/obtained in the UK (cid:1) one EU state (UK) can
withhold all or part of such financial help from that person?

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/189

2.

Is the UK policy contrary to EU policy as regards:

(a)

legality of policy and infringement of rights;

(b) effective freedom of movement?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

The Honourable Member asks about the health care arrangements between the Member States for elderly
people. He asks whether the United Kingdom may refuse to make any contribution to the costs of nursing
care if an elderly person moves to another Member State, when a financial contribution would be made to
nursing costs in the United Kingdom.

It is not clear from the question to what contribution to nursing care costs it refers, and therefore whether
it falls within the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the
application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the
Community (1) or not.

Council Directive 90/365/EEC of 28 June 1990 on the right of residence for employees and self-employed
persons who have ceased their occupational activity (2) gives a right of residence in another Member State
to retired people.

However, this right of residence is subject to two conditions:

(cid:1) the person must have sufficient resources (pension) not to become a burden on the social assistance

system of the host Member State;

(cid:1) the person must have comprehensive sickness insurance.

In conclusion, without further information on the nursing care benefits mentioned by the Honourable
Member, the Commission is unable to say whether there is any infringement of Community law or policy.
If the Honourable Member could provide further information to the Commission this problem could be
assessed more accurately.

However, the Commission is aware of the fact that people who need nursing care and cannot afford to pay
for it out of their own pockets can be effectively barred from exercising the right of free movement.

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971.
(2) OJ L 180, 13.7.1990.

(2003/C 161 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0177/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Mass poisoning of stray animals in Zappeion Park

(30 January 2003)

Animal welfare and environmental organisations in Greece have condemned the mass killing of animals in
Zappeion Park which took place only a few days before the official ceremony inaugurating the Greek
Presidency and the meeting of the College of EU Commissioners in Zappeion Hall on 10 January 2003.
Dogs and cats which had been neutered and vaccinated by animal welfare organisations were killed by a
powerful poison, and traces of this poison have been found even in children’s playgrounds.

Given that similar practices have occurred in the past both in Athens and in other regions of Greece,
possibly with EU funding earmarked for the protection of strays (for instance, dog shelters), will the
Commission say whether it intends to investigate these allegations? What is the Commission’s overall view
of Greek policy on animal protection?