WRITTEN QUESTION E-0807/03 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tackling the problem of substandard work in Greece.
Date: 2003-03-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, Greece, Structural Funds, exchange of information, fraud, operational programme, public works

C 11 E/122

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

(2004/C 11 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0807/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 March 2003)

Subject: Tackling the problem of substandard work in Greece

In its answer to my question P-1270/02 (1) on substandard work in Greece, the Commission stated that it
had not yet received any information from the Greek authorities on the outcome of the steps taken to
remedy the defects in category-2 and 3 projects. In the same answer it refers the author of this question to
an answer to an earlier question (E-1894/01 (2)) on the communication of substandard work in projects
funded under the 2nd CSF in Greece to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) on the basis of Commission
Regulation (EC) 1681/94 of 11 July 1994 (3).

Will the Commission say:

(cid:1) Does it have any more recent information on the percentage of substandard work in Greece?

(cid:1) Is it aware of the actual outcome of the steps taken to remedy the defects in category-2 and 3 projects

and, if so, what was the outcome?

(cid:1) Have the Greek authorities forwarded a communication (cid:1) in addition to that referred to in the answer
to my question E-1894/01 (cid:1) on the basis of Commission Regulation (EC) 1681/94 of 11 July 1994
to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly
paid in connection with the financing of the Structural Funds and the organisation of an information
system in this field?

(1) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 92.
(2) OJ C 134 E, 6.6.2002, p. 5.
(3) OJ L 178, 12.7.1994, p. 43.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 2003)

The Honourable member poses three questions:

1. The Commission’s services have now received closure statements for all operational programmes
included in the second CSF, the majority at the end of March 2003. These statements include a listing
of public works in category ii), for which the Greek authorities certify that appropriate action has
been taken either because remedial works have been done, or because appropriate financial sanctions
have been imposed on contractors. In some other cases, it is said that appropriate action will be taken
within three months. In the framework of the closure procedures, the Commission’s services will
examine these declarations.

2. Regarding operational programmes during the period 2000-2006,

the Commission assures the
Honourable Member that the qualitative aspects of the projects co-financed by the CSF III are checked
thoroughly during the enquiries carried out by its audit services, most recently in November 2002.
However, because the preliminary findings of these enquiries are still in the process of being examined
with the Greek authorities, it is premature to draw conclusions.

3.

Pursuant to the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1681/94 of 11 July 1994 (1), the Greek authorities
communicated to OLAF up to December 2002, forty one cases for CSF II containing very serious
deficiencies (category iii cases). Recently, the Greek authorities communicated to OLAF that after
supplementary controls made by ESPEL, the 41 cases have been classified as follows: 28 cases in
category iii, 9 cases in category ii and 4 cases in category i.

(1) OJ L 179, 12.7.1994.