92002E0676

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0676/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2002)

Subject: Cancellation of tendering procedure for the Thessaloniki underground

Three years after the Greek Parliament approved under law 2717/99 the contract for the construction of the Thessaloniki underground, the Government is now seeking to cancel the project and to issue invitations to tender for the construction of a tramline.

Is the Commission aware of the Government's intentions?

What has caused the delays to date in the construction of the Thessaloniki underground?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2002)

The Commission is unaware of the intentions which the honourable Member claims the Greek Government has. As a result, the Commission can neither confirm nor refute the information put forward by the honourable Member to the effect that the Greek Government plans to cancel the project in question and to opt for the construction of a tramline.

With regard to the honourable Member's second question, the Commission emphasises that the actual implementation of public works concession projects in the Member States is the responsibility of the concessionnaire and of the State. As the Commission has told Parliament on several occasions, it would appear that the financing plan for the project has not yet been finalised and that it is still being negotiated by the Member State, the concessionnaire, the European Investment Bank and commercial banks.