WRITTEN QUESTION E-1170/02

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE)and Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 April 2002)

Subject: Construction of Athens tram system

As part of the operational programme for railways, airports and urban transport under the 3rd CSF, the Greek Ministry of Transport and Communications is pressing ahead with the construction of a tram system consisting of two lines:

- Zappeion Nea Smyrni (Achilleos) Palio Faliro Neo Faliro and

- Neo Faliro Palio Faliro Ayios Kosmas Glyfada.

Transport engineers and other experts have raised objections to the route finally chosen (via Nea Smyrni instead of Syggrou Avenue and via the seafront at Palio Faliro) and to the tight schedule for carrying out the work forming part of the timetable for works relating to the Olympic Games which leaves no margin for reviewing any shortcomings in surveying and planning. Moreover, the inhabitants of Nea Smyrni, Alimos, Glyfada and Palio Faliro have protested (the last-mentioned have in fact appealed to the Council of State), while three of the town councils involved have rejected the proposed route on the grounds that it would ruin the seafront, an area of exceptional beauty, without resolving the traffic problem. Traffic lanes would be lost or substantially narrowed and bus routes cut and services reduced.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Have a complete transport study and an advisability study duly been carried out to consider other, more cost-effective solutions? What comparative study justifies the choice of route one instead of the route via Syggrou Avenue (our information suggests that there is none)?

2. Has a complete environmental impact assessment been carried out (2000 trees would apparently have to be destroyed) and were the public consulted at the stage when the route and the environmental impact assessment of the works were adopted?

3. Have all the requirements of Community and national law concerning competition and the social value of the project been met?

4. What is the timetable for completion of the project and how realistic is it?

5. How has it come about that, despite its lack of experience in carrying out a project on this scale, TRAM A.E. has been chosen as the most appropriate firm to complete this project?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2002)

On the basis of the information received from the Greek managing authority responsible for the operational programme Railways, Airports, Urban Transport 2000-2006, the Commission is able to provide the following responses to the questions raised by the Honorable Member.

1. The most complete and recent transport study covering both transport infrastructure and the public transport system in the region of Attika, is the Metro Development Study prepared with the co-ordination of Attiko Metro Company. The alignment finally chosen by the Greek authorities for the Athens tramway follows the conclusions of the above mentioned study. Alternative alignments have been examined, but the one finally proposed by this study and selected for support serves the transport needs of a large part of the Athens urban area better.

2. The managing authority has confirmed that an environmental impact study has been carried out and the rules on publicity and consultation of the public provided by the national legislation have been respected for the Athens tramway.

3. The agency Tram Ltd has launched an extensive information campaign for the project, targeting, in particular, to the nine municipalities which will be directly served by the tram. The managing authority confirms that all the rules of national and Community law concerning tendering procedures have been respected.

4. The objective set for the completion of the project is the first semester of 2004, so that it can service the 2004 Olympic Games. The Greek authorities consider this objective to the both ambitious but realistic.

5. The agency Tram Ltd is a subsidiary of Attiko Metro Company which has extensive direct experience in rail public transport systems construction and operation. It should also be recalled that this is the first project of its kind in Greece in the period since the 1960s.