(2004/C 84 E/0013)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1974/03

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

(5 June 2003)

Subject:   Rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Attica

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 %.

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