WRITTEN QUESTION P-1329/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 April 2001)

Subject: Attica regional operational programme and earthquake-protection projects

The fifth major project under the regional operational programme for Attica is to repair the aftermath of the earthquake which hit Attica on 7 September 1999. The sum of 94,63 million budgeted for measure 5.5 - repairs to basic infrastructure under local government responsibility - is considered inadequate to cover the damage and the reconstruction work to be undertaken by the local authorities in west Athens, the least developed and most underprivileged area of the Greek capital, which suffered the severest effects of that disastrous earthquake.

Will the Commission increase the funding provided for this measure?

Since the uppermost concern in the minds of the public is the protection of their property and their lives from further earthquakes, why does the Commission give priority in only a small number of local authority areas to preventive public projects such as the earthquake-protection programmes for buildings, mending the urban fabric, organised accommodation for earthquake victims, repair and construction of networks, microzoning studies, and shoring and demolition?

If measure 5.5 does not include aid for certain preventive projects to protect the public - in addition to the restoration of public squares and buildings etc - would the Commission then not assume a grave responsibility for failing to support the local authorities in attempting to provide effective protection in the event of another earthquake similar to the one in 1999, which claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of homes?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

At its fifth priority axe Repair of damages caused by 1999 earthquake, the Attika regional operational programme (OP) for the 2000-2006 period, which was signed by the member of the Commission responsible for Regional Policy at the beginning of May 2001, provides for public expenditure of 462 million of which a contribution of 370 million comes from the European Regional Development Fund.

The distribution of this amount between the different measures is the responsibility of the Greek authorities and will be set out in the programming complement to be prepared by the managing authority and approved by the OP monitoring committee. However, this OP already proposes the following indicative resources allocation between measures for the public expenditure:

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The Greek authorities are also responsible for selecting individual projects within the scope of measure 5.5. Measure 5.7 provides also for action to clean up damaged urban sites, and prepare them for the building of new seismic-safe houses. The building of private houses is not itself an eligible expenditure for structural funds, on the basis of regulations in force.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) can also assist the Greek authorities with long term loans up to 1 billion for the repair of damage caused by the earthquake of 1999 in Attika. A loan of 300 million has already been approved by the EIB in December 1999, which can be also used for co-financing rebuilding or repair of private houses damaged by the earthquake.