WRITTEN QUESTION E-3797/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 January 2003)

Subject: Studies on the Via Egnatia

The importance of the Via Egnatia axis for northern Greece is well known, as well as its significance, in conjunction with the perpendicular axes, for the cooperation and progress of all the bordering Balkan states.

With this objective in mind, the Commission is funding project PP701 Egnatia road technical studies, within the framework of the trans-European Transport Networks, to the tune of EUR 30 million over the 2001-2003 period.

1. Which sections of the main axis or the perpendicular axes have been studied?

2. How many agreements has Egnatia A.E. signed, what are they, and what procedures were used for the awarding of the studies? Was the public contracts procedure used or not?

3. When was each of the contracts for studies signed? Who are the contractors and what is the timetable for completion? What is the budget, what is the specific subject matter of these studies, and what stage of completion has each of them reached?

4. How much of the EUR 30 million allocated has been paid to date?

5. How does the Commission intend to promote the completion of the Egnatia road and its perpendicular axes? What time framework does it envisage?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2003)

Priority project (PP) 701 to which the Honourable Member refers is part of the Multiannual Indicative Programme adopted by the Commission on 19 September 2001, under which EUR 30 million is being granted for studies and technical support measures in 2001-2006 on the Egnatia section of priority project No 7 (PATHE-Egnatia). This project forms part of the Trans-European Transport Network. The funding allotted is an indicative amount.

The sections of the main route or the perpendicular offshoots of the Via Egnatia which are being studied in the framework of project PP 701 are to be found in Decision C (2001) 3898/10 of 30 November 2001, a copy of which will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat General of Parliament.

The contracts which Egnatia Odos S.A. has signed relate to both technical and environmental studies covering all the phases of the project and to the construction of the different sections of this road.

According to the information supplied by Egnatia Odos S.A.:

- 170 contracts had been signed in the framework of PP 701 by the end of 2001;

- the contracts were awarded after a call for tenders in accordance with national and Community legislation.

The particulars of the contracts date of signature, subject, timetable for completion (but not the names of the contractors, which are not usually notified to the Commission) are contained in the table supplied by Egnatia Odos S.A. with the periodical progress report submitted in accordance with Decision C(2001) 3898/10 of 30 November 2001. A copy of this table will also be sent to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat General of Parliament.

The total amount paid in 2001 and 2002 was EUR 9 250 000, or 30,8 % of the EUR 30 million figure.

The Community Support Framework 2000-2006 for Greece provides for a substantial amount of financial assistance from both the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund, for the construction of the Egnatia motorway and its perpendicular offshoots. EUR 1 150 million in subsidies is planned for the Egnatia road and about EUR 300 million for the construction of the perpendicular routes linking Egnatia with Greece's borders with four other States. The Community Support Framework and the Cohesion Fund 1994-1999 for Greece also contributed with subsidies amounting to EUR 760 million for the construction of the Egnatia motorway.

In the last five years the European Investment Bank has also approved loans of EUR 1 500 million to Greece for financing the Egnatia motorway.

The Greek authorities have informed the Commission that 153 kilometres of new dual two-lane motorway have already been completed and are in use on the Egnatia link, and that by the end of 2002 an additional 150 new kilometres will be completed and in use. On the basis of the same estimate by the Greek authorities, 530 kilometres of new dual two-lane motorway on the Egnatia route cofinanced by Community funds should have been completed and be in use by the end of 2005.