WRITTEN QUESTION E-0151/04 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Shortage of intensive care units in Greece.
Date: 2004-01-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, Greece, health care, health policy, health service, operational programme

C 84 E/168

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 2004)

The fibre-optic undersea cable linking the Azores to the mainland and the fibre-optic undersea cable
between the islands (except Flores and Corvo) were part-financed by the Regis II Community Initiative.
The former cost approximately EUR 16,6 million, the latter approximately EUR 12,5 million. These
projects received part-financing of EUR 12,5 million and EUR 9,35 million respectively from the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF). REGIS II was a Community Initiative during the 1994-1999
programming period.

Submitting applications and allocating finance came under the responsibility of the regional authorities,
whose aim was to develop as many projects as possible as efficiently as possible. Flores and Corvo have a
combined population of 4 400 and are 140 nautical miles (about 200 kilometres) from Faial, the nearest
other island, and some 500 kilometres from the most populated island (Saint Miguel). Due to the cost of
providing Flores and Corvo with a fibre-optic link,
it was decided to use alternative technical means
(wireless data link and satellite).

This type of project could be eligible for support under the POSI operational programme, but the choice of
projects for approval also has to consider their cost-effectiveness in relation to existing and foreseeable
traffic and take into account the results of the alternative solutions available. Approval of the projects
submitted rests with the programme manager and the managing unit (at national level) taking into account
inter alia the priorities set, the selection criteria laid down and the project’s economic viability so as to
maximise the operational programme’s effectiveness while complying with the rules in force, including
those on competition.

The Commission is currently also examining the question of remotest regions’ links with the rest of the
Union and ways of reducing their inaccessibility, with a view to responding to the memorandum which
Portugal, France and Spain sent to the Commission in June 2003.

(2004/C 84 E/0206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0151/04

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Shortage of intensive care units in Greece

(27 January 2004)

There is a significant shortage of intensive care units in Greece. Under the Second Community Support
Framework (CSF), measure 1.1 of the health section of the Health and Welfare Programme provides
specific appropriations for the modernisation of intensive care units and the creation of new units.

1.
How many intensive care units were planned when the Health and Welfare Programme was
submitted under the Second CSF? How many were created and how many of those are now operational?

2.

3.

How many units planned under the Second CSF were not completed?

How many completed units are not operational and why?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2004)

The Commission can inform the honourable Member that no measure of
the Health and Welfare
Programme of the Second Community Support Framework (CSF) provided specific appropriations for the
modernisation of intensive care units and the creation of new units.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/169

Measure 1.1 of the said operational programme provided appropriations for:

(cid:1) the creation of building infrastructure and the procurement of related equipment to meet the needs of

postgraduate education and vocational training within hospitals,

(cid:1) the procurement of hospital and other scientific equipment for hospitals of which the (new or

upgraded) building infrastructure was funded under the regional operational programmes,

(cid:1) the procurement of equipment for the psychiatric departments of new hospitals of which the building
infrastructure was funded under the regional operational programmes and the psychiatric units
developed in existing first degree health care centres.

According to information received from the Greek authorities, the most accurate information available
regarding the number of intensive care units in Greece is as follows. By the end of 1993 the intensive care
units of all hospitals in Greece had 789 beds. Today, the intensive care units of all hospitals in Greece have
1 360 beds. Apart from very few exceptions, all of these beds are in operation. By the end of June 2004,
the intensive care units of all hospitals in Greece will have 1 466 beds.

(2004/C 84 E/0207)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0159/04

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Trial of women for illegal abortion in Portugal

In the town of Aveiro in Portugal, a trial is being held of women who have undergone termination of
pregnancy. Despite the appeals and resolutions of the European Parliament calling on the governments of
the Member States to refrain under any circumstances from prosecuting women who have had an illegal
abortion, Portugal continues to enforce its criminal legislation prohibiting abortion, which is not consistent
with the fundamental rights of women.

Given the differences in sexual and reproductive health and related rights in the EU and within the
Member States and,
in particular, the enormous disparities among Europeans in terms of access to
reproductive health services, contraception and voluntary termination of pregnancy, and in view of the fact
that women and men should be free to take their own responsible decisions about their sexual and
reproductive health and rights, what measures will the Commission take to decriminalise abortion in the
EU so that women are not brought to trial for matters relating to their physical and mental integrity?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2004)

The Honourable Member will recall from recommendation 13 of the Van Lancker report on sexual and
reproductive rights, which was adopted in July 2002 by the Parliament, that criminal law applying to
illegal abortion of national citizens is entirely a national competence of the Member States.

(2004/C 84 E/0208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0160/04

by Uma Aaltonen (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Use in the EU institutions of sniffer dogs trained to detect explosives

The security mechanisms employed in the EU institutions have failed to detect the letter bombs sent to
senior officials over the last few weeks.