WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289/03 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Wage and pension levels in Greece.
Date: 2003-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU statistics, Greece, consumer price, cost of living, euro area, inflation, pay, pension scheme, price increase, public opinion

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20.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2003)

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

(2004/C 70 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289/03

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2003)

Subject: Wage and pension levels in Greece

There have been particularly vehement protests in Greece about the relatively high rate of price increases
in Greece compared to the rest of the EU, in conjunction with the low level of wages and, particularly, of
most pensions. According to recent Greek press reports, Athens has been ranked 71st worldwide as
regards the cost of living, moving up from 111th place in the same survey announced in 2002 (covering
2001). Public opinion surveys in Greece show that citizens believe that the establishment of the euro (and
the rounding upwards of prices that followed) together with inadequate market inspections are responsible
for the rise in inflation.

Will the Commission provide detailed comparative data concerning the level of basic wages and the
minimum pensions and the cost of living in the 15 Member States of the European Union? What impact
does it believe the increase in the prices in all the eurozone countries and the fact that psychological
acceptance of the euro is diminishing are having on the image of the single European currency? Has it
recommended specific measures to keep prices down in the eurozone countries?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The source of the particular cost of living comparison the Honourable Member referred to in his question
is not clear and hence the Commission cannot comment on it. Many such comparisons are produced by
various institutions, for various purposes and often reported in the press. They differ with respect to the
statistical methods used and in particular the targeted population groups, the baskets of goods and services
covered and the internal weightings applied to these baskets.

Concerning the question of the supply of comparative data on the level of minimum wages, minimum
pensions and measures of the cost of living, the Commission would like to pont out that such information
is already publicly provided by its services. For data on minimum wages and cost of living comparisons the
source is Eurostat (see for example Eurostat’s Statistics in Focus Theme 3: 10/2003 and Theme 2: 56/2002),
while data on minimum pensions were compiled in table 1 of the Joint Report by the Commission and the
Council on Adequate and Sustainable Pensions adopted on 6/7 March 2003 by the Employment and Social
Affairs and Ecofin Councils (document number 6527/2/03 rev.2). The table is based on the Mutual
Information System on Social Protection in the Member States (MISSOC) and the Directorate-General for
Employment and Social Affairs (EEA), and contributions from the Member States.

As regards inflation in consumer prices, the annual average rate of change in the euro area for 2002 over
2001 was 2,3 %, the same as in 2001, as measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).
In its latest study on the impact of the changeover to the euro, Eurostat estimated that the contribution of
the euro changeover to the 2,3 % total most likely fell within the range of 0,12 % to 0,29 % percentage
points in the euro area as a whole (see the Annex to Eurostat News Release No 69/2003, 18 June 2003).
This analysis confirmed that, although consumers experienced significant price increases for some types of
goods and services, the changeover effect could not be seen as one of the main factors driving inflation in
2002. It is possible, however, that such significant price increases in some sectors (mostly small services
and some frequently bought items) may help to explain the perception of higher than actual inflation in

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it is worth bearing in mind that any upward effect on overall
some Member States. In this context,
inflation rates due to the euro changeover can be expected to be of temporary nature. Indeed, the Eurostat
study mentioned above could not find any evidence of an effect of the changeover on the inflation rates
measured so far in 2003. The medium to long-term impact of
the single currency is to increase
competition across the euro area and hence lead to lower consumer prices.

Finally, regarding the acceptance of
the Commission notes that according to the latest
Eurobarometer (spring 2003), 75 % of the respondents in the euro area expressed support to the single
currency. This figure increased by 4 percentage points compared to the Autumn 2002 survey and is back
at the level reached right after the introduction of euro notes and coins on 1 January 2002, which was
also the highest level since 1994.

the euro,

(2004/C 70 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2309/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(14 July 2003)

Subject:

‘Ecstasy’ (cid:1) Holland

According to the media, the consumption of synthetic drugs, especially Ecstasy, is becoming increasingly
popular among young people in the Member States of the European Union.

According to these reports, most of the drugs originate in the Netherlands. Because of a more permissive
attitude towards the consumption and sale of drugs in general, the environment is conducive to less public
condemnation and vigilance regarding the production and sale of drugs.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it can confirm that the consumption of synthetic drugs, especially Ecstasy,

is increasing,

particularly among young people in the EU Member States;

(cid:1) whether it can confirm that most of the drugs come from the Netherlands;

(cid:1) if so, what measures it has taken or intends to take to prevent drugs being exported from the

Netherlands and distributed throughout the EU;

(cid:1) whether it considers that the policy on drugs and addiction developed by the Netherlands has proved

ineffective;

(cid:1) what measures it recommends the neighbouring Member States should take to prevent the spread of

the adverse consequences of the Netherlands’ drugs and drug-addiction policy?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(27 August 2003)

According to the 2002 Annual Report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
(Emcdda) cannabis continues to be the illegal substance most commonly used in all Union countries.
Substances other than cannabis are used by much smaller proportions of the population. Amphetamines
have been tried by 1 to 6 % of the population while ecstasy has been tried by about 0,5 to 4,5 % of the
population.

The latest national population surveys among young adults (15-34 years old) report recent use (during the
last month) of amphetamines by 0,5 to 6 % and ecstasy by 0,5 to 5 % of the target population in European
countries.

The Emcdda in its annual report also indicates that the Netherlands is a major site for the production of
ecstasy, amphetamines and related drugs but evidence of production in other Member States and in east
European countries is also reported.