WRITTEN QUESTION P-2767/98

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE) to the Commission

(7 September 1998)

Subject: Cohesion Fund - sewage treatment projects in Thessaloniki

The projects Nos. 94/09/61/010 and 94/09/61/043 entitled "Enlargement and completion of sewage-treatment installations for Thessaloniki - stage II" and "Completion of the sewerage treatment plant in the tourist area of Thessaloniki" were included under the projects financed from the Cohesion Fund in 1995.

According to a Communication from the Commission(1), the operational phase of the first project is to begin in 1999, whereas the second project was due to be completed by 31 December 1996. Bearing in mind that:

- the Greek authorities notified the Commission in May 1997 that work on the construction of the Thessaloniki sewage treatment installations was complete and that they were currently at the test stage;

- under the terms of project No 94/09/61/010, the Greek authorities have undertaken to expand the sewer network and link up the industrial area to it, and to monitor the quality of industrial effluent;

- it is absolutely vital to complete the projects to clean up the Thermaic Gulf so as to protect the marine ecosystem from uncontrolled daily discharges of 150 000 m3 of urban sewage and 60 000 m3 of industrial effluent.

Will the Commission say:

1. what stage has been reached in the construction of the installations and when they are due to be completed?

2. what contribution the Community has made and what amounts have so far been spent on each of the projects mentioned?

3. whether there have been delays in completing these projects and, if so, why?

4. what difficulties and shortcomings have arisen in the construction of the installations, if any, and what measures will be taken to ensure that the funds allocated are used for the completion of the projects?

5. which of the other undertakings given by the Greek Government in connection with project 94/09/61/010 have been met?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 1998)

The project "Completion of the sewerage treatment plant in the tourist area of Thessaloniki" was finished on schedule and the plant has been in operation since February 1997. Community funding for the project totalled ECU 2,7 million, 80 % of which has been paid. The balance will be paid once the Greek authorities have submitted a formal request.

The project "Enlargement and completion of sewage-treatment installations for Thessaloniki, stage II" is in progress. So far, one fifth of all the works have been carried out. Those relating specifically to sewage treatment are 35 % complete, so that it will soon be possible to treat more than 60 000 m3 of sewage a day. The under-sea conduit is 15 % complete and the plant improvement works have just started. According to the Greek authorities, the project will be finished at the end of 1999.

The project has been granted Community funding totalling ECU 59,3 million, of which ECU 13,8 million have been paid and ECU 12,5 million will be paid on submission of a request by the Greek authorities.

Construction work for the project was delayed while various essential studies were carried out. To the Commission's knowledge, no defects have been found so far.

As for the undertakings given by the Greek authorities, the waters of the Thermaic Gulf are being monitored by research programmes, screening of industrial effluent will be supplemented if necessary, and the sewer network management plan will shortly be put out to tender. Once the stage II installations have been completed, the industrial estate will be connected to the system - thereby ensuring that industrial effluent is monitored.

(1) OJ C 244, 22.8.1996.