91997E3617

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3617/97 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission (10 November 1997)

Subject: Rate of progress of Greek land registry

Given that Greece is one of the few countries in Europe still lacking a national land registry, the establishment of such a registry is obviously a matter of capital importance for Greece. Will the Commission say, on the basis of the information it has at its disposal, what is the overall volume of appropriations set aside for funding the Greek land registry, how much has been disbursed so far, what progress has been achieved in relation to the project as a whole and when is the project expected to be completed at the present rate of progress?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf- Mathies on behalf of the Commission (5 December 1997)

The Environment operational programme, as approved on 29 July 1994, provides for public expenditure of ECU 172 million on the establishment of the land register in Greece, representing a third of the programme's budget. Following the recent discussions on the amendment of the Community support framework (CSF), it is planned in principle to reduce the budget for the land register by ECU 33.3 million (public expenditure).

The current absorption rate of this project is 11%. That rate is expected to double (22%) by the end of 1997, when the signed contracts will represent ECU 120 million. The Commission considers that it was necessary to make proper legislative and organisational preparations for the introduction of a national land register system. This necessarily took time, so that the utilisation of funds as such could only start as from this year. The Commission believes that there are no more obstacles to prevent absorption of the appropriations within the time limit laid down in the CSF.

According to the programming of the Greek authorities, it will take approximately 15 years to complete the land register throughout Greece.