(2004/C 65 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2830/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 September 2003)

Subject:   Railways in Greece

The modernisation of Greek railways has been a long-standing target of structural measures and has been included in all previous support programmes. Does the Commission think that the railways programme under the second Community Support Framework was properly implemented? What was the rate of utilisation of funds from the initial and revised budgets for the programme? What information does it have on the implementation of the project? What railway projects are being funded from the third Community Support Framework and the Cohesion Fund for the programming period 2000-2006? What has been the rate of utilisation of these funds?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2003)

The 1994-1999 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme (OP) for the modernisation of the Greek railways and the related Cohesion Fund projects are currently in the process of closure in administrative terms. The total programmed ERDF contribution to the OP Railways 1994-1999 was EUR 394 million, of which so far some 92 % has been paid. Under the Cohesion Fund, 1994-1999, EUR 546 million of assistance was approved for Greek railway projects, of which so far some 86 % has been paid. The projects concerned primarily the modernisation of important sections of the Korinthos-Athens-Thessaloniki railway axis and some related lines (such as Thessaloniki-Alexandroupolis and Paleofarsala-Kalambaka).

The Commission has monitored carefully the physical implementation and the contract management of certains major projects in partnership with the national authorities. This concerned in particular track works which included the construction of tunnels and bridges (e.g. at Kallidromo, Tembi, Platamon), and the project for the electrification of the line. The Commission implemented a number of audits and commissioned a series of expert opinions, the results of which will be fully taken into account for the closure of the programme and projects concerned, which is currently underway and will determine the definitive absorption figures for the period 1994-1999.

Most of the large railway projects launched in the previous funding period represent major long-term investments and accordingly their realisation will only be complete under the 2000-2006 ERDF Operational Programme ‘Railways, Airports, Urban transport’ and the Cohesion Fund railway projects of the 2000-2006 funding period. In the current period, new projects include the modernisation of the railway section Korinthos-Patras and the construction of the Athens suburban railway.