91997E2383

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2383/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (10 July 1997)

Subject: Via Ignatia railway line

It is well known that Greece is one of the EU Member States with a very difficult geographical situation, a fact compounded by its remoteness and the absence of common frontiers with other Member States of the Union. As a result, considerable attention needs to be given to transport infrastructures in the country in order to overcome its isolation as far as possible.

How does the Commission view the possibility of promoting the construction of a railway line along the Via Ignatia starting from the port of Igoumenitsa and stretching as far as the Turkish border, which would also allow transport from the Middle East to pass through the port Volus, so as to give fresh impetus to trade in the Balkan region, a development which would undoubtably benefit EU interests in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (23 September 1997)

Investments in rail infrastructure in Greece part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund in the period 1994-99 focus on adding a second track to and electrifying the Athens-Thessaloniki line. Improvements to the Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli line are also being part-financed.

As regards the possible construction of a new link to Igoumenitsa to create a 'Via Ignatia railway line', in principle this should be examined and analysed with the Greek authorities when the dossiers for infrastructure investments to be part-financed in the period 2000-06 are prepared.