WRITTEN QUESTION P-0546/03 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Crash of third helicopter belonging to the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB) in Greece.
Date: 2003-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Greece, award of contract, helicopter, operational programme, supplies contract, transport accident

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/199

(2003/C 192 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0535/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 February 2003)

Subject: Working time and SiMAP judgment

Can the Commission confirm that the European Court of Justice’s judgment of 3 October 2000 in the
SiMAP case will apply to the working time of doctors in training once the Working Time Directive’s
provisions concerning these workers enter into force later this year?

What does the Commission consider to be the likely effects of the judgment on the ability of health service
providers to deliver patient care?

How does the Commission intend to review the impact of the Working Time Directive on health service
providers?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2003)

From 1 August 2004, the Working Time Directive (Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993
concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (1)) will apply to doctors in training,
together with the relevant interpretation given by the European Court of Justice to its provisions.

The Commission has initiated an analysis of the consequences of the judgement of the Court in the Simap
case (2) in all Member States. A meeting with national experts has already taken place and an invitation to
tender for a study has been launched. The study should provide a detailed overview of the Member States’
legislation and practices concerning the working time of doctors, assess the consequences of
the
application of the Simap case in all Member States and evaluate its potential repercussions in other sectors.

The Commission intends to address this issue in the communication on working time which will be
adopted during this year.

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.
(2)

Judgment of the Court of 3 October 2000 in Case C-303/98, Sindicato de Médicos de Asistencia Pública (Simap)
and Conselleria de Sanidad y Consumo de la Generalidad Valenciana, ECR 2000, I-07963.

(2003/C 192 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0546/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Crash of third helicopter belonging to the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB) in Greece

On 11 February 2003, the third EKAB helicopter in the space of a few months crashed in the area of
Ikaria. It had been bought (as indeed had the previous two) to provide an emergency airlift for patients
from the remote Greek islands and regions. Following this third crash, the tragic death toll totals 14
(doctors, nurses, pilots and patients).

Has the European Union provided funding for these helicopters through any form of Community initiative,
fund or low-interest loan (e.g. from the European Investment Bank, etc.)? If so, what representations has
the Commission made to the Greek authorities, and when, to establish the reasons for these constant
accidents?

C 192 E/200

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2003)

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, two of the three helicopters that have
crashed over the last months had been co-financed by the Community through the Community Support
Framework 1994-1999 for Greece, in particular under the Operational Programme ‘Health and welfare’.
More precisely, the programme mentioned financed the procurement of five helicopters with a total cost
of EUR 17,8 million, of which EUR 13,3 million were contributed by the Community. The delivery
of helicopters began on 24 December 1999 (first helicopter) and was completed on 29 March 2000
(fifth helicopter).

According to Council Directive 94/56/EC of 21 November 1994 establishing the fundamental principles
governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents (1), every accident has to be
investigated by an independent body established in each Member State with the sole objective of
preventing future accident. A report containing, where appropriate, safety recommendations has to be
published, if possible within one year of the accident, and a copy has to be sent to the Commission. It will
be the exclusive responsibility of the Member State to enforce the possible safety recommendation to
prevent re-occurrence of these accidents.

Moreover,
in accordance with Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1681/94 of 11 July 1994
concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the
structural policies and the organisation of an information system in this field (2), if in the light of the
circumstances of these accidents the Greek authorities conclude that the expenditure on helicopters
constitutes an irregularity because of deficiencies in the tendering or contracting process (as distinct from
operational
is the Member State’s responsibility to communicate to the Commission this
irregularity, and this before the submission of the final payment claim for the related programme (‘Health
and welfare’).

issues),

it

(1) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.
(2) OJ L 178, 12.7.1994.

(2003/C 192 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0551/03

by Jean-Maurice Dehousse (PSE) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Use of languages during the accession negotiations

I should like to thank the Commission for its reply to my question P-3442/02 (1) of 26 November 2002,
which I have studied with particular interest.

I note with satisfaction that ‘since the beginning of the Accession Negotiations and at the different levels,
there has been no restriction of the language regime to English or indeed to another official language of
the Union and all official languages of the Union have been available for use’.

However, I am also forced to note that, at present, the provisional text of the Accession Treaty, comprising
70 files, is accessible to Members only in the English version.

If all the languages have indeed been available for use, by what miracle is it only the English version which
has now emerged?

(1) OJ C 110 E, 8.5.2003, p. 213.