WRITTEN QUESTION E-0664/03 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Telemedicine for remote Greek islands.
Date: 2003-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Aegean Islands, Community support framework, financing, medical institution, telemedicine

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/105

In the wake of these actions, does it agree that the Commissioner gives the impression that she is
3.
pursuing a personal vendetta against OA, since there is a risk that recourse by the Member State in
question to the Court of Justice may trigger reprisals by the Commission? To what extent is this conduct
justified by the need to protect freedom of competition which should constitute the only motive for, and
at the same time the limit of, the Commission’s actions?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission not only enforces Community law but also abides by it.
Consequently, it is not the role of the Commission to comment on appeals lodged against its decisions. In
a Community based on the rule of law it is absolutely fundamental that the parties concerned must be able
to assert their legal rights.

This, in short, echoes what the Commission representative said.

What is more, in reply to the question of whether referral to the Court of First Instance could result in an
increase in the amount of aid to be repaid, if the aid paid since 1994 were to be included, the Commission
spokesman simply stated that this would depend on the wording of the ruling by the Court.

This being the case,
in accordance with the EC Treaty the decision adopted by the Commission in
December 2002 is binding on Greece and must be acted on within the time limits set. The appeal lodged
by Olympic Airways before the Court of First
these
circumstances, Greece must proceed rapidly to recover not only the EUR 41 million but also the other
unlawful aid.

Instance has no suspensory effect. Under

At this stage, according to the information available to the Commission, Greece has taken no measures to
act on the decision of 11 December 2002.

The Commission will ensure compliance with Community law, in this case as in all others, with the aid of
all the instruments placed at its disposal by the Treaties.

(2004/C 11 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0664/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Telemedicine for remote Greek islands

(6 March 2003)

Three helicopters used for airlifting patients from small Aegean islands have crashed over the last two
years, killing 14 persons.

As a result, the system for airlifting patients by helicopter which was funded by the Commission has now
broken down.

The only constant in the healthcare system on these islands is the Greek National Health System’s
telemedicine system. It has also received EU funding and links up 40 small hospitals, health centres and
regional clinics to the programme’s reference centre which is located in the Sismanogleio hospital in the
prefecture of Attica.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

1. Can it confirm that the Greek State has assigned staff capable of meeting the demands of the network

24 hours a day to the telemedicine unit of Sismanogleio hospital?

C 11 E/106

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

2. Can it provide qualitative data on the services so far offered by the Sismanogleio telemedicine unit?

3. What appropriations have been made available for developing telemedicine under the telemedicine
funding did the

In what programmes? What

level of

programme in Greece’s Second CSF?
Sismanogleio telemedicine unit receive?

4. What appropriations are provided for in the Third CSF in this connection? What appropriations are
earmarked for modernising and upgrading the telemedicine network of NHS based at Sismanogleio
hospital?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2003)

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, the capacity of the telemedicine unit of
the Sismanogleio hospital to operate on a 24-hour basis is currently being examined including the matter
of a possible increase of its staff.

The same authorities have informed the Commission that the telemedicine unit of the Sismanogleio
hospital has treated since 1992 some 8 000 cases of which 15-20 % were emergencies. In treating the
cases directly, it has also managed to prevent the transfer of patients to other hospitals in the region or in
Athens in some 50 % of the cases normally requiring such a transfer. Finally, a number of training
programmes have been implemented through the telemedicine network, aiming at improving the delivery
of health services through the reinforcement of the diagnostic and treatment capacity of local doctors and
hospital staff by the specialists of the Sismanogleio hospital.

The only action relevant to telemedicine that was funded through the 1994-1999 Community Support
Framework (CSF) for Greece, was a study on the development of telemedicine information systems. Its total
cost was EUR 62 340.

During the present CSF for Greece (2000-2006), telemedicine actions are eligible under the operational
programme ‘Information Society’. However, the design and preparation of such actions as well as their
proposal to the Managing Authority of the programme (a body set up and run by the Member State) is the
responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Up to now, no proposals regarding telemedicine
actions have been submitted to the Managing Authority of the ‘Information Society’ programme by the
Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Numerous telemedicine projects involving Greek partners have been funded through successive European
Research and Development Framework Programmes, starting with AIM (Advanced Informatics in
in 1988. A list of Telemedicine application projects financed under the Fifth Framework
Medicine)
Programme (1998-2002), and involving Greek partners is presented in the annex which is sent direct to
the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat. It can be seen that there has been a constant
support of the Commission for Telematics projects involving Greek partners and also that more then
EUR 6,4 million have been allocated to Greek participants in these Telematics projects in the context of a
total Community contribution of EUR 27 million.

(2004/C 11 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0683/03

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(7 March 2003)

Subject: Failure of Spanish legislation on coastlines to comply with community provisions on public

involvement

Spanish Law 53/2002 of 30 December, on fiscal, administrative and social measures, amends specific
provisions of Law 22/1988, of 28 July, on Coastlines.

The drafting and adoption of this back-up legislation was done with a total non-involvement of citizens
and directly affected sectors.