A.N.A. Bulletin, 06/07/96

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <[email protected]>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 930), July 6, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

CONTENTS

[1] PASOK CC elects new executive bureau expressing all intra-party currents

The ruling PASOK party's new central committee elected the party's new executive bureau yesterday, in which all intra-party tendencies are represented, while central committee secretary Costas Skandalidis was re-elected at his post. The new 18-member executive bureau will convene for the first time at PASOK headquarters on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and PASOK president Costas Simitis.

Summing up the central committee's first session since PASOK's fourth congress last week, Mr. Simitis said the session was a call for a new start. He said every start had its difficulties because established mentalities, practices and habits had to be overcome, and expressed certainty that PASOK had the powers to succeed.

Referring to party founder Andreas Papandreou, Mr. Simitis said "he is always present among us", adding that "it is he who created the movement and the dynamics uniting us. He created PASOK. We will remember him forever."

During his opening speech before the election of the new executive bureau members, Mr. Simitis made a political opening to the center-left, saying it was the "lifeblood" of the movement.

The central committee's decisions on a new executive bureau "are the first act in a new beginning for PASOK," he said, adding that the new committee is called on to give the "first concrete sign of a new era in PASOK and the political life of the country."

Last weekend's fourth party congress was not only an expression of PASOK members but the voice of society itself, while the congress was the most significant post-war political procedure because "through democratic, free of any tutelage procedures, it c hose people who are connected with ideas and positions and opened the page to the 21st century," Mr. Simitis said.

We are on a countdown with the future and we gave positive responses because this congress is the supreme act of a new beginning for PASOK, a new era in the political system and an example to be followed by other political forces, he continued.

Mr. Simitis said political parties should not be on the periphery or on top of society because this is the result of a bureaucratic conception; (which) isolates the citizens from politics and political parties loose their impact. This must come to an end, he said.

"The congress emerged with a deeply optimistic message that society is not silent; society has submitted demands for a new social and political process, and this is what the PASOK congress responded to," he said.

There were no victors and losers at the congress, he added, but all, without divisions and discriminations, must rally for the future.

The Greek people, he added, expect a great deal from PASOK, especially in the field of effective government, where with no oscillations whatsoever, with truthfulness, consequence and firmness, radical changes in the economy, administration, education, institutions and social welfare should get underway.

"The party must be the force that will support and direct the government's work, and for this reason it must enter a new era of synthesis and collective functioning for all its bodies, from the base to the top, and to renew its relations with society," he said. He requested clarity, transparency and effective work from all the bodies, stressing that the executive bureau must be "a unified policy and guidance center without obscured decision-making centers." The president, he added, must be its guide and a vehicle for its expression.

Mr. Simitis said he would work to ensure that excessive centralism and authority, authoritarianism and distinctions between friends and foes are a thing of the past, stressing that this should be a task and responsibility for all, because the supporter s of PASOK demand that established mentalities and behaviors were overcome; they ask for a new quality and new functions.

"The credibility of the political world and government statements must be restored through the complete implementation of programs, and an end put to rhetoric," he added.

"PASOK is in a privileged position because New Democracy is not in a position to offer new policies, ideas and prospects," he said.

It could only regurgitate neo-liberal positions, project populist slogans and pose again as champion of ultra-nationalism, the result being that it offers an opposition without coherence, orientation and view, and seeks recourse in personal attacks and insults, thus being self-ridiculed in a fashion not befitting a party of the main opposition, the premier concluded

[2] Opposition remarks

Criticizing Mr. Simitis' speech at his party's central committee yesterday, the main opposition New Democracy party said Mr. Simitis exhausted his political speech "on perplexed and barren verbal attacks."

An announcement by ND said that instead of this, the premier should remind the people of even one positive achievement of his government during its six-month term.

"It is certain that he will struggle in vain," the announcement read, adding that "this precisely proves and explains the deadlock he has found himself in again after the temporary euphoria of PASOK's congress processes."

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras yesterday called Mr. Simitis' speech "abstract and vague," and called on him to "seek the people's will and not be fortified by constructed party majorities."

[3] The new executive bureau

The candidate receiving the most votes among the elected 16 members of the new PASOK executive bureau was Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, who polled 93 votes out of 149 valid ballots.

A total of 150 central committee members voted, while one ballot was void because it had 20 crosses of preference instead of a maximum of 10 allowed.

Following Mr. Laliotis were Paraskevas Avgerinos with 87 votes; Stefanos Manikas, Miltiades Papaioannou and Vasso Papandreou with 86; Stefanos Tzoumakas 85; Christos Protopapas 83; George Papandreou 80; Theodoros Pangalos 78; Theodoros Tsoukatos 77; Akis Tsohatzopoulos 68; Gerassimos Arsenis 64; Yiannis Souladakis 61; Pantelis Economou 48; Maria Arseni 44 and Manolis Daskalakis with 38. Mr. Daskalakis won his seat after a draw against Yiannis Haralambous, who polled the same number of votes.

Apart from Yiannis Haralambous, other candidates who failed to secure election were Antonis Kotsakas with 37 votes, Yiannis Mangriotis with 35 and Yiannis Kapsis, 13.

Mr. Tsoukatos resigned his post as an adviser to the prime minister after being elected to the executive bureau.

Party president Costas Simitis and central committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis automatically retain seats on the 18-member PASOK executive bureau.

[4] Skandalidis re-elected PASOK secretary

Costas Skandalidis was re-elected secretary of the ruling PASOK party's new central committee yesterday.

Mr. Skandalidis, who ran for the position unopposed, received 118 votes from the 149 ballots. There were 28 blank ballots and three invalid.

In his brief address, Mr. Skandalidis called on all Greeks to participate in "a PASOK of the creative present and a hope-filled future."

He said his election was a "vote of confidence" for his term in the leadership of the party, which he said has entered a new era.

Referring to last week's fourth PASOK congress, he said this "mass, open and democratic congress was a victory for politics and the party."

"Simitis did not win, Akis (Tsohatzopoulos) did not lose; there were no victors or vanquished," he said.

[5] New Supreme Court head announced

The cabinet yesterday announced it had appointed Stephanos Matthias, a Supreme Court Vice-President, to fill the post of president left vacant by the resignation of Vassilis Kokkinos at the end of his six-year term recently.

Mr. Matthias, 60, president of the National School of Jurists, will lead the Greek Supreme Court until the year 2002, when he will retire.

Panayiotis Dimopoulos, 62, was also appointed to fill the vacant position of Supreme Court prosecutor.

Justice Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the cabinet meeting was unanimous in approving the changes made to the leadership of the state's higher courts, following a number of leading justices taking their pensions.

The new head of the Supreme Court was born in 1935 and was appointed judge at the Athens First Instance Courts in 1961. In 1977, Mr. Matthias joined the Nafplion Court of Appeals while in 1986 he became president of the Athens Court of Appeal. He became a Supreme Court justice in 1990 and a Vice-President in 1995.

Among other appointments and promotions to the courts are Agisilaos Bakopoulos, Dimitris Vourvourakis and George Vellis, who were promoted to vice-presidents of the Supreme Court, while Titos Koundouros and Kimon Halazonitis were appointed to the state' s highest administrative court, the Council of State, as vice-presidents.

Dimitris Maroudeas and George Georgoulias were appointed vice-presidents to the State Audit Council.

Mr. Venizelos, in announcing the new appointments, added: "The government, through its justice minister, respectful of this constitutional duty of the cabinet, which is the relevant guarantor of the independence of justice, will not follow any further debates regarding the specific justice officials. We believe that this is an act that will protect the authority of justice."

[6] Gov't spokesman

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the cabinet took into consideration seniority, legal authority, personality and the ability to co-operate in its final decisions on the Supreme Court's appointments.

He stressed that the final decision was agreed to by all the ministers.

"The government does not care to know who justices 'belong' to, but it does want them to operate autonomously and in accordance with their forensic beliefs," he said.

Referring to comments by former premier Constantine Mitsotakis that the government had excluded "exceptional judges of general renown and with seniority" from the positions of Vice-President of the Supreme Court, Mr. Reppas said Mr. Mitsotakis had himself made choices in the past, which "should make him blush with shame".

Mr. Mitsotakis said two judges in particular had been excluded from the positions "on the sole basis that they voted in accordance with their conscience and the constitution on the issue of the 'royal' property, and not in line with the wishes of PASOK. "

Mr. Reppas stressed that the appointments had been made on the criteria he had already mentioned.

He added that in the context of the discussion of a revision of the constitution there would be a consideration of the matter of the choosing the leadership of the country's highest courts.

[7] Opposition reactions

Commenting on the appointments, New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said that "unfortu-nately, as in the past, the government has again proved that it remains, particularly with regard to the choice of Supreme Court president, bound by petty party political calculations.

"As regards the prime minister and the government, this act of theirs is one more example of the 'new style and ethos' they profess, trying in vain to deceive the Greek people."

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras, in an announcement, reiterated the party's proposal that the leadership of the courts be chosen by judges themselves.

"Only in this way can we avoid whatever criticism about government preferences," he said.

The Coalition of the Left and Progress, meanwhile, proposed that the leadership be elected "by a wider electoral body, in which the very judges play a significant role".

The statement criticized both government and main opposition party New Democracy for "both insisting on the maintenance of an umbilical cord which undermines the separation of powers."

[8] Stephanopoulos inspects several navy vessels

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos inspected Hellenic Navy vessels off the island of Hydra yesterday as part of activities for Greece's annual observance of "Navy Week."

President Stephanopoulos was accompanied by National Defense Under-secretary Nikos Kouris and the armed forces leadership when he boarding the frigate "Elli".

A total of 32 ships were inspected: Four frigates, four destroyers, two gunboats, two troop carriers, four submarines, four mine sweepers, a general support vessel, one tanker and 10 missile patrol boats.

In a statement, Mr. Stephanopoulos said the navy defends the islands in the best possible way, as well as Greek sovereign rights, and expressed his satisfaction over the outcome of the inspection.

Replying to a question on a certain small-scale ditente achieved in Greek-Turkish relations over the past few days, President Stephanopoulos said a final ditente could be achieved on the condition Turkey accepts the option of resorting to the International Court of Justice at The Hague for whatever disputes it may perceive.

The fleet will remain in Faliro Bay over the weekend. The public may visit the vessels from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

[9] Canadian MPs kick off 10-day Greek visit today

A number of Canadian MPs are due in Athens today for a 10-day visit to Greece, at the invitation of the Greek Parliament.

The inter-party Parliamentary delegation will be received by President Kostis Stephanopoulos and are scheduled to meet with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and other government officials as well as political party leaders.

The delegation is also expected to meet with the members of the Greek-Canadian friendship group, members of the Greek Parliament's defense and foreign affairs committee and local government authorities as well as visiting archaeological sites and tourist regions.

[10] Evert sends congratulations to Yeltsin

A message to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, congratulating him on his re-election this week, was sent yesterday by main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert.

"Your personal triumph confirms the victory of democracy in Russia and justifies the expectations of the Russian people for stability in the region and a better future," Mr. Evert said in his letter.

"I wish you, Mr. President, personal happiness, health and the strength to continue the great mission you have undertaken for the progress and prosperity of the friendly Russian people and the consolidation of peace in our uncertain world."

[11] Vartholomeos in Scotland

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos left yesterday for Edinburgh where he is to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the Edinburgh University's Theology School.

[12] Greenpeace steps up campaign against proposed DEH plant in Crete

The international environmental advocacy organization Greenpeace is continuing its campaign on Crete against construction of an oil-burning power plant by the Public Power Corp. (DEH) at Atherinolakos site in the Lasithi prefecture.

Greenpeace is organizing concerts and exhibitions and distributing information brochures in communities across the island. In addition, the group is supplying electric power for its activities with a mobile solar unit named "Cyrus."

Cyrus arrived in Rethymno yesterday, while tomorrow and on Monday it will be located at the Hamam in Hania.

The public can visit the solar electrical generating unit between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

[13] Balkan foreign ministers to gather in Sofia this weekend

In the first such meeting since the beginning of the war in the former Yugoslavia, Balkan foreign ministers are to convene here over the weekend to discuss security and co-operation in southeastern Europe, as well as sign a joint declaration.

The last such meeting took place in Tirana in 1990.

The declaration refers to four main areas, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski said in a press conference yesterday.

The first area concerns good neighborly relations and regional security, as defined by the principles of the Final Act of Helsinki Accord and the Paris Charter.

"The non-intervention in internal affairs and the inviolability of borders are two of these principles," he said.

Concerning security, Mr. Pirinski referred to confidence-building measures (CBMs) and efforts toward reducing the level of armaments, which he said Bulgaria will attempt to further promote by pushing for a Balkan defense ministers' conference in Sofia t his autumn.

The second area concerns cross-border and economic co-operation, particularly in infrastructure projects.

The third area concerns co-operation in the cultural, humanitarian and social spheres, while the fourth area targets the fight against organized crime, terrorism, smuggling and illegal immigration.

The official opening of the meeting will be made by Prime Minister Zhan Videnov at 4 p.m. today.

Besides Mr. Pirinski, also scheduled to attend are the foreign ministers of Greece, Theodoros Pangalos; Yugoslavia, Milan Milutinovic and Romania, Teodor Melescanu. Bosnia, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will be represented by deputy foreign ministers, while Croatia and Slovenia will send observers.

FYROM Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski has said he will send a lower-ranking official in his place because Greece refuses to accept his country's participation under the name "Republic of Macedonia." Greece insists that the one-time Yugoslav republic should participate under the name FYROM, its provisional name, and under which it is seated and recognized by the United Nations.

"Bulgaria, as a host country will implement international law within the framework of the United Nations," said Mr. Pirinski, in reference to the name issue.

This issue of FYROM's name is the crux of a long-standing dispute between Athens and Skopje, dating from the landlocked republic's withdrawal from the former Yugoslavia. Greece refuses under any circumstances to recognize the name "Macedonia", saying it implies territorial designs on its own northern province of the same name.

A reply is also expected from Albania, where procedures for the formation of a new government following recent elections are still underway.

Also present at the meeting will be representatives of the Contact Group for Bosnia, the international community's High Representative for Bosnia Carl Bildt, Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Daniel Tarschys, United Nations Assistant Secretary General Petrovski, and representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as Hungary and Italy.

Of the five member-nations of the Contact Group, the United States will send White House special advisor William Montgomery, Russia will send deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasievski and Germany, France and Britain will send foreign ministry officials.

Other countries invited, as currently presiding in various international organizations, include Ireland (European Union), Switzerland (OECD) and Austria (Central European Initiative).

[14] FYROM bows out of foreign ministers' meeting

FYROM's foreign ministry announced late last night that it would not participate in the Balkan foreign ministers' conference in Sofia, slated to open later today.

The reason given for the abstention is the refusal of Bulgarian authorities to accept a compromise proposal regarding the name issue of the former Yugoslav republic, whereby only the ministers' names and their countries' respective flags would be on the table.

Bulgarian organizers upheld Greek objections regarding the use of the name "Republic of Macedonia". "This an affront to our country's honor and integrity," a Skopje foreign ministry announcement read.

[15] Demirel: Area's problems would dissipate if Turkey entered Europe

The entry of Turkey and the Balkans to Europe would be the most important step in clearing-up the areas' problems, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel said in a recent interview on Turkey's Balkan policies, published in the magazine "Balk an Review".

He also referred extensively to Greek-Turkish relations, saying that the problems between the two countries had to be resolved soon, or else their resolution would become impossible.

"If our region is incorporated in Europe, all the problems in the Balkans will disappear and peace will prevail in the region," Mr. Demirel said. "Europe should expand towards Asia," he added, stressing that "the bridge that will unite these two areas is Turkey and the Balkan countries."

On Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Demirel said the problems between the two countries were complex and that Turkey had appealed to Greece for their resolution.

"Our stance toward all our neighbors is the same. We say 'that maybe there may be certain problems, come and talk with us to solve them,' but if we cannot, let's not add other problems."

"Greece's stance is not friendly," he continued. "There is no benefit in hostility and it cannot continue to the end."

The problems between Greece and Turkey, while complicated, were not more complicated than those of the past, he pointed out, saying Athens must not ignore Turkey's last appeal for peace.

In January this year, the two countries almost came to blows when Turkey challenged Greek sovereignty of the Aegean islets of Imia, while tension was whipped up anew last month when a Turkish official participating in the planning of a NATO exercise in Naples said the legal status of the inhabited Greek island of Gavdos, just off southern Crete, was "in doubt".

[16] Milosevic receives Greek ambassador

Serb President Slobodan Milosevic yesterday received the Greek ambassador, Panayiotis Vlassopoulos, who paid him a courtesy visit.

According to reports, the meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere and focused on issues concerning the development of bilateral relations and co-operation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Greece.

Major international issues of mutual concern were also discussed.

President Milosevic expressed a conviction that the development of mutual relations and co-operation on a basis of respect for equality and mutual interests will contribute to strengthening peace and stability in the region. He also wished Mr. Vlassopoulos success in exercising his duties.

The meeting between the Serb president and the Greek ambassador was the first in four years, when Mr. Milosevic then received the then Greek ambassador Eleftherios Karayiannis.

[17] Balkan Bar Associations meet in Iraklio

The first conference of the Union of Balkan Bar Associations, with the participation of delegates from Albania, Serbia, Romania, Greece, and Cyprus, took place in Iraklio yesterday.

Athens Bar Association President Antonis Roupakiotis said the conference was one of the most important events in the sector, and added that all Greeks should realize that beyond the safeguarding of (territorial) integrity through defense systems, they must create links of communication and friendship if they want stability and peace in the region.

[18] OSCE resolution expected to criticize Turkey's human rights situation

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will issue a resolution this morning expected to condemn Turkey.

The draft resolution already submitted by 20 deputies from seven countries denounces the infringement of human rights and torture in Turkey, and expresses the OSCE's concern over prolonged political instability in the country.

From the podium of the Swedish parliament, where the OSCE's fifth Parliamentary session is taking place, German Christian Democrat party deputy Willy Wimmer denounced difficulties created for him by Turkish authorities when, being a member of the OSCE's human rights committee, he traveled to Turkey to examine the existing situation.

The OSCE's session will continue today when about 600 representatives from the organization's member-states will start processing positions to be included in the session's final text.

On the part of Greece, the committee on politics and security will be headed by PASOK deputy Theodoros Stathis, and the committee on human rights by main opposition New Democracy party deputy Yiannis Stathopoulos. The Greek representation is comprised of six deputies in all.

[19] Policeman shot outside PASOK headquarters

An unidentified assailant shot and seriously injured a policeman last evening as he was guarding the entrance to PASOK's party headquarters in central Athens.

The incident occurred at 9:30 last night outside the offices on Harilaou Trikoupi street.

First reports said the attacker shot the policeman once in the back before fleeing on foot. He was described as wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt.

The victim was taken to hospital, and after undergoing surgery, was considered to be out of danger.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis was immediately informed of the attack, while Press Ministry General Secretary Nikos Athanasakis told reporters that there was no further information available, and that Public Order Minister Costas Geitonas was coordinating investigations.

[20] Limited number of foot-and-mouth disease incidents reported in Evros

Veterinary authorities in the northeastern Evros prefecture have slaughtered more than 1,000 goats, sheep and cattle in three communities in the area since Thursday, following the verification of a limited number of incidents of foot-and-mouth disease, the agriculture ministry said yesterday.

The measure was adopted for preventive reasons, it was added, while the export of live animals, meat and other animal products, as well as animal feeds from the prefecture was forbidden. Export of dairy products is allowed from the prefecture bordering on Turkey, on the condition that products have undergone pasteurization.

The Europe Union had banned Greek exports of live animals and meat products in August 1994, following a serious outbreak of the disease. Eleven thousand animals were slaughtered at the time.

All controls were lifted in December 1995.

[21] Measures continued for heat wave

Athens Prefect Dimitris Efstathiadis convened a meeting of the Athens prefecture's coordinating agency yesterday, which decided to keep protective measures against a heat wave in force over the weekend since weather conditions will remain unchanged.

Presidents and representatives of Greek Red Cross hospitals, the National Emergency Center (EKAB), mayors, deputy mayors and directors of the Athens prefecture's services also participated in the meeting.

According to the decision, all hospitals will be on a state of readiness, municipalities and communities will keep ventilated premises open, while heads of the center for protecting the elderly (KAPH) and Red Cross volunteers will be on standby to offer assistance to senior citizens and other individuals.

[22] Intracom investigators question OTE employees' union official

Federation of Hellenic Telecommunications Organization Employees (OME-OTE) union leader Dimitris Stratoulis was summoned and questioned by special investigator George Nafpliotis yesterday, who together with alternate special investigator Christos Georgantopoulos, is conducting the main investigation on the issue of OTE's procurement of digital telephone switches from Intracom and Siemens Hellas.

Mr. Stratoulis did not disclose the content of his deposition as the investigation is confidential. In a statement to reporters afterwards he said, among others, that:

"I focused on what has been at the epicenter of political and economic confrontation over OTE for the past 20 years. It has to do with political responsibilities existing in the development of the procurements policy at OTE and to cases of control and transparency."

As of Monday, the investigators are expected to summon for investigation various political figures who had also testified in the preliminary investigation carried out on the case, such as former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis and former ministers Andreas Andrianopoulos and Stefanos Manos.

[23] Inflation drops to 8.8 percent in June

Inflation dropped by 0.3 percent in June from the previous month to register an 8.8 percent annual rate after running at 9.1 percent in May, according to National Statistics Service (ESYE) data released yesterday.

Annual inflation was 9.7 percent and 10.9 percent in the corresponding months of 1995 and 1994. Meanwhile, the average level of the consumer price index during the January-June 1996 period showed a 8.9 percent rise compared with the same period last year.

ESYE Secretary-General Fani Zervos said there was a fall in prices in fresh produce and other foodstuffs in the previous month.

[24] Cooperatives Day celebrated

The 74th International Cooperatives Day will be celebrated today under the sponsorship of the United Nations.

In a message on the occasion, the Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES) assured Greek farmers that "it will continue efforts with them to improve the living conditions of its members and for the evolution and development of the agricultural cooperative movement to enable its interventionary role in the country's economy to become more effective, useful and necessary."

PASEGES will organize relevant commemorative events by the end of July, together with other organizations such as cooperative banks, consumer cooperatives and pharmacists', furniture makers', plumbers' and electricians' cooperatives.

[25] New technology, research center to open in Kozani

Macedonia and Thrace Minister Filippos Petsalnikos will lay the foundation stone of the Technology and Research Center of Western Macedonia in Kozani on Wednesday.

The new center belongs to the Kozani Technical Institute, and will cover a total surface of 3,000 square meters.

Departments of the center will operate in urban centers in all four prefectures in the region.

[26] Commission report: Greece fails to absorb some 750 billion drachmas in structural funds

Payments not disbursed by the Community's Structural Funds to Greece are estimated at 750 billion drachmas, according to a report by the European Commission's general budget department.

The report concerns the management of the Structural Funds' budgets from 1989 until 1995, with the main conclusion that both Greece and most of the European Union's member-states show, particularly in the past two years, serious problems in the absorption of funds from the EU's Structural Funds.

Amounts concern implementation of projects and activities whose expenditures had been entered into the Community budget, with relevant funds earmarked but had not ultimately absorbed, primarily due to an inability of most member-states to meet their commitments because of a failure to allocate matching funds from their national budgets.

According to assessments made by EU services, the total amount of payments not disbursed by the Structural Funds to member-states totals ECU 23 billion, divided between Greece with 10.7 per cent, Italy 22 per cent and Spain 20.7 per cent. The European Commission's services attribute this phenomenon primarily to the restructuring of the Structural Funds in 1993, which provided member-states with the opportunity of transferring credits indiscriminately that had not been absorbed from one year to another.

This fact, combined with inadequate planning and inability of national administrations, constituted the main reason for the accumulation of non-disbursed funds, according to Commission officials.

End of English language section.