WRITTEN QUESTION P-1974/03 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Attica.
Date: 2003-06-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Attica, Community support framework, European Social Fund, aid to disaster victims, earthquake, employment aid, fight against unemployment, indemnification, social integration, vocational training

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/13

urban area guidelines to small companies only and solely to beneficiaries who carried on their principal
economic activity in deprived urban areas and reserved at least 20 % of the new jobs created for persons
resident in the deprived area?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1940/03 and E-1941/03
given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2003)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that its Decision on the aid scheme
entitled: ‘Stamp duty exemption for non-residential properties in disadvantaged areas’ was published in the
Official Journal of the European Union (1). The Commission Decision contains a detailed response to the
two written questions mentioned above. The Commission would, therefore, like to refer to its Decision on
the matter.

Concerning the notification of the scheme, which was sent by the British authorities on 21 December
2001, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that Council Regulation (EC) No 659/
1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 (now Article 88) of
the EC Treaty (2) does not provide for the publication of notifications from the Member States in the
Official Journal of the European Union. A description of the facts contained in the notification is to be
found, in particular, in Section II (description of the aid) of Commission decision ‘Stamp duty exemption
for non-residential properties in disadvantaged areas.’

(1) OJ L 149, 17.6.2003.
(2) OJ L 83, 27.3.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0013)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1974/03

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Attica

(5 June 2003)

There are serious social problems in the areas of Attica affected by the earthquakes of 1999, in particular
housing and unemployment. The National Action Plan for social
integration incorporates retraining
schemes to promote the employment of earthquake victims who were unemployed or lost their jobs
owing to the damage caused by the 1999 earthquake. Moreover, unemployed earthquake victims were
entitled to places on the new jobs programme with higher benefit.

What is the take-up rate for the above programmes and how effective have the measures been? Does the
Commission know how many participants managed to obtain employment after training? Is it satisfied
with the policy pursued by the Greek Government?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2003)

A National Action Plan for Social Integration is drawn up every two years by each Member State under the
open method of coordination. The objective is to set out an overall strategy embracing all measures aimed
at minimising social exclusion and promoting the integration of disadvantaged people.

An Action Plan therefore does not constitute a programme in the Structural Funds sense and is not part-
financed by the European Union, although specific activities under it may be part-financed if they are
included in a Community Support Framework (CSF) currently being implemented.

Vocational training and employment assistance measures for victims of the 1999 Athens earthquake part-
financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) were included in the ‘Social Exclusion’ programme under the
second Community Support Framework (CSF II) 1994-1999. This programme has been wound up with a
take-up rate of 97,77 %.

C 84 E/14

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

An ex-post evaluation is now being carried out. This will reveal whether the objectives laid down have
been achieved and how effective the measures financed have been.

The Commission will
available.

inform the Honourable Member as soon as the results of this evaluation are

(2004/C 84 E/0014)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2103/03

by Olle Schmidt (ELDR) to the Commission

(18 June 2003)

Subject: Cross-border investment

Does the Commission consider that the introduction of the euro has boosted cross-border investment for
the participating states? Could the Commission also give the figures for Sweden?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2003)

As stated in the reply by the Commission to the Honorourable Member’s written question E-1350/03 (1),
available data for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) indicate that the introduction of the euro has had a
favourable effect on cross-border investment for the participating countries. FDI data compiled by Eurostat
show a much larger increase of FDI inflows in 1999 and 2000 for the euro area than for other Member
States. This can be interpreted as an evidence of a positive impact of the Economic and Monetary Union
on cross-border direct investment. Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind that EMU is only one of
the factors that have affected euro-area FDI flows in recent years. In 2001, the slowdown in merger
activity and depressed economic conditions entailed a sharp drop in FDI inflows for both the euro-area
and other Member States.

The figures for foreign direct investmen (2) for Sweden are as follows:

From EU-15 to Sweden

From eurozone to Sweden

From non-eurozone to Sweden

From extra EU 15 to Sweden

1999 (1)

45 185

8 839

36 346

5 370

2000

12 061

8 496

3 565

8 280

(million euros)

2001

8 646

7 090

1 556

2 715

Source: Eurostat
(1)

The merger between Astra and Zeneca and Ford’s acquisition of Volvo Personvagnar boosted FDI inflow to
Sweden by about EUR 34 062 million (SEK 300 billion) in 1999.

(1) See page 8.
(2) Excludes reinvested earnings.

(2004/C 84 E/0015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2141/03

by Olle Schmidt (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 June 2003)

Subject: German road tolls

Germany is introducing a motorway toll of SEK 11,45 per ten kilometres for heavy goods vehicles from
1 September 2003. This toll will affect Sweden and Denmark in that it puts them in a worse competitive
position than other European countries.