3 5. The complaint was registered on 4 April 2005 and declared admissible by the Committee on 10 October 2005. 6. In accordance with Article 7§§1 and 2 of the Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints (“the Protocol”) and with the Committee’s decision of 10 October 2005 on the admissibility of the complaint, on 14 October 2005 the Executive Secretary communicated the text of the admissibility decision to the Greek Government (“the Government”) and the complainant organisation, to the Contracting Parties to the Protocol and the states that have made a declaration in accordance with Article D§2 of the Revised European Social Charter, and to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Union of the Confederations of Industry and Employers of Europe (UNICE) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), inviting them to submit their observations on the merits of the complaint by 13 January 2006 at the latest. 7. The Government presented its written submissions on the merits of the complaint on 12 January 2006. It asked the Committee to dismiss the complaint as unfounded. The Government maintains that it is in compliance with all relevant international undertakings and that its legislation and practice are fully compatible with the Charter. 8. In accordance with Article 31§2 of the Committee's Rules of Procedure, the President set a deadline of 10 March 2006 for the complainant to present its response to the Government's submission. The complainant's response was registered on 10 March 2006. 9. In accordance with Article 31§3 of the Rules of Procedure, the President set a deadline of 15 May 2006 for the Government to present its response to the complainant. At the Government's request, the deadline was extended first to 15 July 2006 and then to 15 August 2006. The Government's second response was registered on 2 August 2006. 10. In accordance with Article 31§4 of the Rules of Procedure, the President authorised the MFHR to submit a further response, which was registered on 13 September 2006. He set a deadline of 9 October 2006 for the Government to submit a final response, if it so wished. At the Government's request, the deadline was extended to 25 November 2006. The Government's final response was registered on 24 November 2006. SUBMISSIONS OF THE PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDINGS Air pollution The alleged violation of Article 11§1: A - The complainant organisation 11. The MFHR maintains that Greece has failed to comply with its obligation to protect public health against air pollution, in accordance with Article 11§1 of the Charter, by authorising the Public Power Corporation (DEH) to operate lignite mines