WRITTEN QUESTION E-1179/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Large-scale projects in Greece and operation of the new Athens airport

There are constant reports in the Greek press across the entire political spectrum that large-scale projects in Greece are completed far behind schedule and overstep their budget by a large margin. An example of this is the Athens Metro (underground rail system), which - again according to the Greek press - has cost no less than GRD 36 billion per kilometre. Similar information is also coming to light about the new Athens airport. Apart from the complaints about the difficulties of access to the airport and the other operational problems already identified - one week before its official inauguration - the opposition (whose founder, Mr Karamanlis, envisaged and launched the entire project 22 years ago) have complained that, while eight years ago a sum of GRD 200 billion was budgeted, the final cost of the project was approximately GRD 1 trillion.

In addition, it has also been revealed that airfares are expected to rise by 15-20 % with the new airport, which the same reports claim will directly affect the travelling public, while there are also question marks over the cost of travelling to and from the airport by taxi or car as tolls have already been announced. Furthermore, neither the (ever imminent) suburban rail link nor the Athens Metro will enable passengers to reach the airport from day one, while road access is judged to be inadequate because the new motorway ('Attiki Odos') is not yet fully open to traffic and large sections are still under construction. Transport experts also point out that no pipeline has been built to supply aircraft with fuel and, since there is no link with the main Greek Railways freight terminal, fuel supplies will have to be brought in by a constant stream of tankers on the already congested roads in Attica, causing severe difficulties for road haulage.

What are the Commission's views on the shortcomings of the new Athens airport? Has it informed the Greek Government of how, in its opinion, the new airport can be made fully operational as soon as possible and serve passengers in the best possible way without subjecting them to severe inconvenience and extra expense?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

The Commission knows from its experience with the management of Community funds supporting big transport infrastructure projects that total project costs occasionally exceed initial estimates. The reasons for this are manifold and they depend on the individual circumstances. The Commission is not in the possession of information allowing for comparisons between different Member states in this regard.

In relation to the airport Eleftherios Venizelos the information available to the Commission is that the fixed construction costs are 2 155 billion of which 12 % have been financed from Community funds and 46 % from European Investment Bank loans. No major problems have been encountered in relation to the financial management of this European support.

The Commission has already expressed concern about the access to the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and asked the Greek Government to inform it about the measures that are taken in order to improve the accessibility of airport.

Minister Laliotis and Minister Verelis have provided the Commission with a thorough presentation of the works and measures that the Greek authorities are envisaging. The Greek Government has also presented future plans (e.g. completion of ATTIKI ODOS by end 2002, rail connection by the year 2004). The Commission will continue to insist upon the Greek Government to increase its efforts to provide efficient and environmentally sustainable access to the airport.

The Commission is unable to confirm suggestions that airfares are expected to rise significantly as by-product of opening the new airport. In case, however, that there are clear indications suggesting that airport charges are not cost-related or set in a discriminatory way the Commission would use its powers to rectify the situation. Up to now, substantiated complaints in this regard have not been put forward.