92000E3481

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3481/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Subject: Substandard road construction funded by the second Community Support Framework

In reply to my question E-1912/99(1), the Commission acknowledged that there were widespread problems with substandard road-building in Greece funded by the second Community Support Framework.

Will the Commission say whether it has any further information concerning the extent of substandard workmanship in all the projects funded in Greece by the second CSF? Is the Commission satisfied with the measures taken by Greece to remedy this? If not, what steps will the Commission take to ensure that this tremendously important issue is dealt with?

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 2.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2000)

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to the supplementary answer to Written Question 2783/99 of Mr Alavanos(1) regarding the substandard workmanship in work part-financed under the Community Support Framework for Greece during the 1994-1999 period.

Concerning specifically the Athens-Corinth and Athens-Yliki sections of the PATHE motorway, where construction defects prevented the Ministry of Works from proceeding to the final acceptance of the projects, the Greek authorities have just informed the Commission that the contractors are obliged to repair the structural defects discovered in the work at their own expense before the end of the year 2000. The Ministry of Works will then proceed to the final acceptance of the projects, and will impose fines for irregularities in the layer of asphalt in the sections concerned.

Following the recommendations of a committee of experts and scientists created on the initiative of the Ministry of Works to assess this problem, the final repairs to the layer of asphalt in these sections will be carried out under a new contract for which the call for tender will be published at the beginning of 2001.

(1) See page 2.