WRITTEN QUESTION E-3621/03 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Presence of chlophen in food produced in various regions of Greece.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, chemical product, food contamination, food inspection, food safety, public health

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/613

Following complaints, the Commission was prompted to examine the compatibility of the Greek system
for detecting abnormally low tenders and contacted the Greek authorities several times to clarify the
situation. The matter was also discussed at
the package meeting which took place in Athens on
23/24 October 2003 on the application of Community law to public procurement in Greece.

It emerged from this examination by the Commission that the law in Greece allows abnormally low
tenders to be explained only in very specific cases and that there is provision for a category entitled
‘exceptionally abnormally low tenders’ for which no explanation is allowed. The relevant services of the
Commission feel that this legislation, and the administrative practice derived from it, are apparently
contrary to Council Directive 93/37/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning the coordination of procedures for
the award of public works contracts (2), as well as to the aforementioned case law of the Court of Justice.

Following bilateral contacts, the Greek authorities have amended their legislation by abolishing the
tenderers whose bids are
category of
considered abnormally low after the application of the mathematical formula may nevertheless submit
explanations.

‘exceptionally abnormally low tenders’, while accepting that

Consequently, the mathematical method has not been abolished, as articles in the press would seem to
indicate, but the procedures for its use by awarding authorities have been changed to make it comply with
Community law.

The Commission is watching to ensure that the new national legislation on the procedures for using the
mathematical method, and more especially on the detection of abnormally low tenders, is being applied in
compliance with Community law.

the
With regard to the allegations concerning the existence of cartels in the construction sector,
Commission does not at this time have any elements allowing it to reach a conclusion on the existence of
a structural market situation in breach of Union competition rules. It would therefore like to urge the
honourable Member to forward any information indicating that public contracts may have been rigged.

(1) Written answer of 11.3.2003.
(2) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993.

(2004/C 78 E/0647)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3621/03

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Presence of chlophen in food produced in various regions of Greece

The published conclusions drawn from research carried out by Athens University and the Demokritos
research centre have established the presence of chlophen in milk produce in various regions of Greece,
such as Kozani and Aspropirgos.

In view of the danger associated with the presence of chlophen in food and the fact that these regions are
industrial areas in which clophen discharges have been identified in the past, will the Commission say:

1. whether the competent authorities have carried out checks in the above regions,

2. what measures the Commission intends to take to test for the presence of clophen in food produced

in the above regions, and

3. whether there will be a special control programme and, if so, when it will begin to operate? Should
clophen be found in food and thus constitute a serious health hazard to consumers, what measures
will the Commission take?

C 78 E/614

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2004)

The Commission is not aware of the published conclusions drawn from research carried out by Athens
University and the Demokritos research centre concerning the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) in milk produced in various regions of Greece.

Consequently, the Commission can not currently provide an answer to the questions concerning this study.

The Commission has requested the report to the competent authorities of Greece and will be able to
provide an answer to the questions of the Honourable Member after receipt of the report.

(2004/C 78 E/0648)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3622/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Cost of ‘free’ education in Greece

According to a study reported in the Greek press, total private expenditure on education in Greece
amounted to EUR 1 770 000 000 in 2002, which is equal to 2,8 % of total private expenditure in Greece
and 1,2 % of the country’s gross national product. This astronomical sum is made up of fees for private
schools, supplementary tuition (at privately run establishments known in Greece as ‘frondistiria’)
in
subjects taught in the state schools, the teaching of which, however, is inadequate for those pupils who
wish to be admitted to Greek universities, and for foreign language tuition at ‘frondistiria’.

Are there any data available to show whether the equivalent of ‘frondisteria’ exists in the other Member
States and how widespread the institution is? In which other Member States are such establishments as
widespread and per capita private expenditure on supplementary tuition as high as in Greece? Does the
Commission have any data on the expansion of this system in Greece over the last twenty years, a
phenomenon which represents a huge drain on the family budget of every Greek, whose income is the
lowest in Europe and barely 67 % of the Community average?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2004)

The Commission has at its disposal the Eurostat Household Budget Survey, which includes data on private
household expenditure on education. This is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s
Secretariat. The latest survey relates to 1999. Different private expenditure items on education are
aggregated within this category, including expenditure related to public education, such as text books and
also expenditure on private schools and private tuition. A breakdown of the data presenting expenditure
solely on private institutions is, however, unavailable.

The data available for 1999 show that private household expenditure on education in Greece represents
2,4 % of private household expenditure, which is three times the Union average and higher than in any
other Member State.

While the data refer to private household expenditure on education in total, there is very little available
data on expenditure purely on private tuition. In France, the private tuition market (‘cours particuliers’)
amounts to EUR 1,4 billion (0,2 % of private household expenditure) and in Germany,
is
estimated at over EUR 1 billion (0,1 % of private household expenditure). In the Union as a whole, private
tuition is estimated to be less than 0,5 % of private expenditure. In Greece, this figure appears to be over
2 %.

‘Nachhilfe’