WRITTEN QUESTION E-2684/03 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. The problems of gypsies in Greece.
Date: 2003-09-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, Greece, Roma, elimination of illiteracy, employment aid, operational programme, social integration, vocational training

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/191

(2004/C 65 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2684/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: The problems of gypsies in Greece

In Greece gypsies face problems relating to social and economic exclusion and accommodation. As part of
the operational programme ‘’Combating exclusion from the labour market’ within the second Community
support framework for Greece, projects were implemented which included actions aiming to combat the
problems of gypsies, such as basic training (including combating illiteracy), training, the promotion of
employment and the provision of accompanying and support services.

Can the Commission provide data to evaluate, in terms of actual content, the above-mentioned operational
programme in the second Community support framework? Have any actions been planned in the third
in which operational
Community support
programmes and with what level of expenditure? What progress has been made to date with such actions?

the problems of gypsies? If so,

framework to combat

Answer given Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, actions specifically targeting gypsies
funded under the second and third Community Support Frameworks (CSF II and III) are as follows:

I.

Programme: combating exclusion from the labour market under CSF II:

1.

Sub-programme: entering or returning to the labour market
These measures involved training, support services, and employment support for the gypsy
population.

Year

Budget (euro)

Total number of beneficiaries

Number of hours training

1996

1997-1998

1999-2001

1 287 252

880 541

3 668 264

Total

5 836 057

290

243

370

903

8 540

5 230

14 584

28 354

2.

Sub-programme 5, measure 3 ‘Awareness and publicity campaigns’.
In 1999-2000, six information campaigns were organised highlighting the occupational activities
of gypsies and promoting gypsy art.
In addition, six one-day events were organised by the Ministry of Labour to promote the
economic and social
this action was
inclusion of young gypsies. The total budget
EUR 146 814.

for

II. Action under the other CFS II and CSF III programmes was as follows:

3.

Education

4. Over the period 1998-2001 (CSF II), under the ‘Continuing training’ operational programme, an
educational programme was run for school age children in 30 locations with a gypsy population.
The main activities comprised training 3 000 teachers for schools attended by gypsy children,
producing appropriate teaching materials, setting up accelerated catch-up courses and promoting
awareness among parents.
Following this programme, in 2000, 75 % of the children regularly attended primary school as
opposed to 25 % previously.

C 65 E/192

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

5. 2002 onwards (CSF III)

This educational programme has been extended to all areas with a gypsy population and
supplemented by new measures. It is co-financed by the CSF III ‘Employment and continuing
training’ programme.
In the initial phase, 130 accelerated catch-up courses are planned to integrate children into
mainstream education. These are not special schools for gypsies but entail a preparation and
support programme to help them reintegrate into the school system. Courses for trainers and
production of teaching materials are also on the agenda.
This initial phase will also include: literacy courses for 600 adults, courses in oral and written
communication in Greek for 150 adults and training of 150 adults in basic areas such as health,
children’s education, etc.

6. Health

7. Over

the period 1997-2002,

the Ministry of Health, Prefectures and non-government

organisations (NGOs) ran a vaccination programme.

8.

For 2002-2008 (CCA III) a public health programme is planned, co-financed under the CSF III
Health and Welfare operational programme. It includes action on preventive health, vaccination
and health education. A particular example is a mobile medical unit which has already visited 20
gypsy encampments. By the end of the period it will have visited all the communities concerned.
The unit performs preventive examinations (blood tests, chest x-rays, PAP tests, etc).
In some communities, with the help of national funds, a permanent housing programme is being
include 50 health centres. These centres will be co-financed by the
implemented, which will
corresponding CSF III regional programmes.

9.

Employment Promotion

10. 1997-2001 saw the implementation of some hundred occupational training programmes. The

participants included around 1 800 members of the gypsy community.

11. For the current period, a number of vocational training and employment support programmes are
planned under the ‘Employment and vocational training’ OP and the regional CSF III programmes.
They primarily target disadvantaged groups, including the gypsy community.

12. Gypsy Support Centres (Adults and children)

This project is co-financed under the EQUAL initiative. There are currently ten centres operating
in ten different districts. They provide advice and information in areas such as education,
employment, health, housing and relations with the administrative authorities. In the districts with
housing projects (national funds) 20 more such centres are planned for the current period.

(2004/C 65 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2687/03

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: Project to combat coastal erosion at Maríne di Ugento

The Regional Operational Programme (ROP) for Apulia envisages Community funding for a project
intended to tackle the emergency caused by the erosion of the sandy coastline of Maríne di Ugento
(Measure 1.3. (cid:1) soil conservation measures (cid:1) Action 2: measures to protect the coastline).

The project receiving funding, to be carried out by the company Etacons, s.r.l., covers:

(a)

the rebuilding of three wall-panels situated along the beach, to be carried out by raising the remains of
four other panels located in the same area;

(b) dredging the sand from the present inlet between the two existing breakwaters and moving it to cover

the adjacent coastal area;