WRITTEN QUESTION E-1877/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 June 2000)

Subject: Progress on the Attica highway and the Athens suburban railway

The Attica highway, known as the Elefsina Stavrou Spata Airport freeway, is a major project which is closely associated with the operation of the new airport in Spata and the 2004 Olympic Games. The original budget of this project was GRD 450 billion, and it was due to be completed and

gradually handed over between 2001 and 2002. Recently a number of airlines have been threatening to boycott Spata airport if the above highway leading to the new airport has not been completed. There are also signs that the suburban railway linking the new airport of Spata and Athens will not be ready for the Olympic Games in 2004, since the competition for the choice of consultant for the project will be invalidated.

Will the Commission say:

1. What is the overall take-up rate of appropriations for the project so far, what is the delay in the handover of the project and has any provision been made for the payment of compensation for this delay?

2. When is the project expected to be opened to traffic given the present rate of construction?

3. What are the consequences likely to be for the operation of Spata airport if the Attica highway is not completed in time?

4. What exactly is to be done to link the centre of Athens by rail to the new airport of Spata?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2001)

Concerning the Elefsis-Stavros-Spata-Imitos (ESSI) Athens ring project, the Commission has received the following information from the national authorities.

Expenditure undertaken up to now by the public sector for the construction of this project is about GRD 76 billion, out of which GRD 40 billion have been paid for the concession, GRD 33 billion for the public works and GRD 3 billion for the studies and associated matters. Additional public expenditure amounting to GRD 250 billion has already been made available for expropriations.

The total cost of the project in current prices is estimated as follows: GRD 330 billion for the concession part, GRD 280 billion for public works, GRD 250 billion for expropriations, GRD 10 billion for studies and management.

The Greek Ministry of Public Works has confirmed that the section Pallini-Spata airport will be finished in March 2001, as foreseen in the concession contract for Spata airport. For the Imitos peripheral motorway, completion will be delayed until 1 August 2003 due to a Supreme Court decision to modify the environmental conditions. The Elefsis-Pallini section should be completed on time, i.e. 31 December 2002.

The connections between the route of the motorway and both the railway line coming from Acharnes new station (SKA) and the metro line to Stavros will be ready before the 2004 Olympic games.

Whenever a delay occurs due to any factor related with the public administration and the state, penalties should be paid to the concessionaire, as provided for in the concession contract.

A suburban rail link from SKA to the Spata airport and a link of the metro line from Stavros to Spata, through the route of the ESSI motorway, have already been decided by the Greek authorities.