WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3181/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. The Thessaloniki 'metro'
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: European Regional Development Fund, Macedonia, co-financing, competence of the Member States, complaint to the Commission, public contract, public transport, underground railway, urban centre, vehicle on rails

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/107

Generally speaking, the Commission is sceptical about using VAT rates as a policy tool for attaining specific
economic objectives, in particular when compared to other more direct and targeted policy measures. However,
the  basic  problem  behind  the  Honourable  Member(cid:146)s  question  is  currently  re-examined  by  the  Commission
against  the  background  of  its  plan  for  a  new  common  system  of  VAT.  In  this  context,  the  Commission  is
seriously considering the idea of applying a reduced VAT rate, on an experimental basis and for a limited period
of time, to some locally operating labour-intensive services.

(1)  COM(97) 559.

(98/C 134/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3180/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Accidents on the Tsakona-Kalamata road

The mayors of 12 communities along the route of the 30 kilometre road linking Tsakona and Kalamata claim that
60 people have been killed and scores seriously injured owing to the road passing through residential areas, the
lack of traffic lights, poor roadworks and speeding. The fact that the road passes through villages which do not
even have rudimentary pavements or lighting and that there is no visibility or controls makes life particularly
difficult  for  the  inhabitants,  especially  the  elderly,  schoolchildren  and  the  very  young.  In  response  to  local
protests, the Peloponnese Region has claimed that the only solution to the problem is to build a new bypass.

Has  the  Peloponnese  Region  proposed  that  such  a  road  be  incorporated  into  the  2nd  CSF  when  it  is

1.
reviewed, and

is  there  any  possibility  of  intervening  under  the  2nd  CSF  to  redesign  the  road  or  come  up  with  other

2.
alternatives?

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

(25 November 1997)

According  to  the  information  available  to  the  Commission,  the  Greek  authorities  have  already  awarded  the
contracts  for  the  studies  for  some  sections  of  the  future  motorway  from  Tripoli  to  Kalamata,  of  which  the
Tsalona-Kalamata section is part. This will involve a new route which does not pass through the inhabited areas
as does the existing road which is the subject of the citizens(cid:146) complaints.

Since the above-mentioned studies will not be ready before 2000, the new route cannot be part-financed under
the Community Support Framework for 1994-99. Nevertheless, the Greek authorities could submit a proposal for
part-financing of the studies under the current programming period.

Clearly, it is not the Commission(cid:146)s place to intervene concerning the route of the roads it finances, let alone those
for which financing has not yet been requested.

(98/C 134/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3181/97

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: The Thessaloniki (cid:145)metro(cid:146)

The plan for the construction of a (cid:145)metro(cid:146) in Thessaloniki is essentially confined to a single line running parallel
to the city(cid:146)s waterfront which does not even form an efficient link between such nodal points as the airport and
the city centre. At all events, a large part of the city, its suburbs and basic economic and other facilities will not be
served by the (cid:145)metro(cid:146) as planned.