92002E1759

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1759/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 June 2002)

Subject: Marína at Lefkada

A marina for leisure craft was recently inaugurated at Lefkada. The project was jointly funded by the European Union.

What was the cost of building the marina? What amount did the EU contribute and what was the contribution from the Greek Government, banks and private investors?

Which organisation carried out the work and what are the circumstances regarding ownership?

What were the general interest criteria on which the decision to approve joint Community funding was based?

Would the project also be economically viable without Community funding? Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2002)

Under the subsidiarity principle and in line with Structural Fund rules it is up to the Greek authorities to select projects in line with the criteria set in the relevant operational programme adopted by the Commission. Thus it is not the Community that approves financing of individual projects or monitors their execution.

The project in question was selected by the Greek authorities for assistance under the Sustainable expansion of tourism subprogramme of the Ionian Islands regional operational programme.

We have been informed by the national authorities that the marina is owned by the Greek State, which made over operating rights to the Prefecture of Lefkada, which is the final recipient of the assistance granted from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). By a contract signed at the end of 1999 the Prefecture assigned construction and operation of the marina for a 40-year period to the undertaking Lefkada Marína SA.

Project execution is in two stages, the first involving work on the boat harbour itself costing EUR 8 800 000 in total, 75 % part-financed from the ERDF (1994-1999 programming period). The second covers completion of the harbour work plus work on landside facilities, the total cost being EUR 19 800 000: EUR 6 200 000 of public and EUR 13 600 000 of private expenditure. The ERDF is paying 75 % of the public expenditure under the Ionian Islands regional operational programme of the 2000-2006 Community support framework.