WRITTEN QUESTION P-0558/03 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Rendi meat market.
Date: 2003-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Greece, Community support framework, Food and Veterinary Office, Structural Funds, consumer protection, health legislation, infringement of EU law, meat processing industry, rural development, sale

C 161 E/226

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

(2003/C 161 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0558/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Rendi meat market

One year ago, during a visit to Athens, a delegation from the Directorate-General for the Environment and
Public Health found that the Rendi meat market was far from complying with the relevant EU rules. The
Commission’s subsequent report on the matter focused on the lack of equipment and disinfection
procedures, the poor state of the buildings, the lack of changing rooms and the methods used for cutting
meat. The Greek Government responded by announcing that GDR 4,5 billion would be allocated from the
third CSF to build a new modern market in 2002. So far nothing has been done.

Will the Commission say if it has been informed of the allocation of these funds for the building of a new
market? What is the Commission’s view of the fact that the Rendi market is still operating in breach of EU
it do to ensure that Greece complies with the
rules, posing a threat to public health, and what will
recommendations of the delegation that visited the meat market?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

Over the past three years the Commission, has had discussions on several occasions with successive Greek
Ministers for Agriculture, both in Brussels and in Athens, to express concerns about weaknesses in food
safety control systems in Greece, including the situation in Rendis meat market of Athens. The difficult
situation at this market has been the subject of two missions and one follow-up inspection made by the
Food and Veterinary Office in 2002.

The December 2002 follow-up inspection identified that a risk to consumer health from the situation in
Rendis meat market could not be precluded. Nevertheless, some improvements in structure in one wing of
the market and in official controls and operational standards were noted. However,
important written
commitments from the Greek authorities regarding improvements to the operation of the market had not
been delivered, no shops failing to comply with Community requirements had been closed and work had
not begun on the construction of the new market.

A project was already programmed by the Ministry of Agriculture and was eligible under the 2nd
Community Support Framework for Greece (1994-1999). There has been no follow-up to date by the
involved national authorities, even though such a project is also eligible under the current ‘National
Operational Programme (cid:1) Rural Development (2000-2006)’ for Greece.

It should be underlined that under the structural funds programmes, the Commission cannot require the
Member States to promote specific projects, such as the creation or the modernisation of a meat market.
As indicated in the reply to Written Question E-2566/01 by Mr Hatzidakis (1),
it is for the Greek
authorities to decide the inclusion of the project and to implement it in the relevant programme for rural
development.

In the response from the Greek authorities following the inspection in January 2002 a guarantee was
received that new market premises should be completed within 18 to 24 months. They have now
indicated in a response to the findings of the December 2002 inspection that completion of the new
market will take between three and four years.

The Commission’s view is that the delays in closing the non-complying establishments within the market
are incompatible with the fact that urgent action is needed to achieve acceptable hygiene and operational
standards if the market is to be allowed to continue to operate until its replacement is available. Protection
of consumer health must be given the highest priority in considering the future operation of the market.

10.7.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The Commission has recently met with the Greek authorities and discussed this and other matters with
them. Commitments to implement the necessary improvements have been received, and the Commission
will continue to monitor the situation very closely.

(1) OJ C 115 E, 16.5.2002.

(2003/C 161 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0592/03

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Subject: European Union funding for Niedersachsen 2002

1. What amounts of European Union funding were paid to Niedersachsen in 2002 from:

(cid:1) the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF),

(cid:1) the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (cid:1) Guidance Section,

(cid:1) the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (cid:1) Guarantee Section,

(cid:1) the European Social Fund (ESF),

(cid:1) European Community research programmes,

(cid:1) European Community programmes for the environment,

(cid:1) other European Community programmes?

2. Who were the beneficiaries?

3. What amounts were made available by way of co-financing either with the Land of Niedersachsen or
with the Federal Republic of Germany?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

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

(2003/C 161 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0602/03

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Information on passengers travelling to the United States

(25 February 2003)

It has been reported in the media that an agreement is being drawn up jointly by the Commission and the
US Administration, supposedly as part of the fight against terrorism, under which the European side will
make information available on passengers travelling to the United States.

Given the sensitivity of such a situation, which would call into question the protection of personal data,
can the Commission inform me, as a matter of urgency, of the reasons for and terms of such an
agreement,
its compliance (or non-compliance) with Community legislation on the matter and the
guarantees and checks to which the agreement will be subject?