WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3841/97 by Stephen HUGHES to the Commission. Safety at Athens airport
Date: 1997-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, HUGHES STEPHEN
Subjects: Central Greece, airport, public safety, safety device

C 174/142

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 6. 98

and the Environment introduces doubly stringent standards regarding iron reinforcement in the construction of
new housing in Greece, resulting in a 15% increase in costs, which is excessively high for the average Greek.

Has  a  comprehensive  seismologic  study  been  carried  out  in  connection  with  recent  work  on  the  Athens
underground railway and the new airport in Spata? Does the Commission intend to create a special Structural
Fund reserve earmarked for new public and private projects so that they can be fully guaranteed to withstand
earthquakes, given that prevention of disasters is infinitely preferable to measures to remedy the damage they
cause in both material and human terms?

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

(19 January 1998)

The  antiseismic  regulations  in  force  in  Greece  are  applied  to  the  study  and  construction  of  the  Athens
underground,  the  Spata  airport,  and  all  other  projects  in  Greece  which  are  part-financed  by  the  European
Regional Development Fund or the Cohesion Fund.

The  cost  of  studies  and  construction  under  these  projects,  including  the  additional  cost  of  applying  the
antiseismic regulations, is eligible for a contribution from these Funds so there is no need for a special reserve for
this purpose.

(98/C 174/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3841/97

by Stephen Hughes (PSE) to the Commission

(5 December 1997)

Subject: Safety at Athens airport

Recently The Times in the United Kingdom carried an article which suggested that Athens airport was abysmally
deficient in safety equipment and had been for some considerable time. The article went on to say that the airport
authority had no plans to re-equip or replace deficient safety equipment.

Could the Commission indicate what steps have been taken to guarantee the safe passage of European Union
citizens through one of the Union(cid:146)s busiest airports?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 1998)

The Commission does not have information confirming the alleged situation at Athens airport which is described
by the Honourable Member in his question. The Commission assumes that the reference is to security equipment
for the detection of weapons and explosives at airports, rather than to safety equipment.

The Commission has Legal power to intervene in issues relating to aviation security in individual Member States.
While Title VI of the Treaty on European Union provides for cooperation between Member States in the areas of
Justice and home affairs, the initiative for action on such matters is retained wholly by Member States.

The Commission does participate, however, as an observer in the working group on security within the European
Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC).

If  the  Honourable  Member  has  more  detailed  and  specific  information  relating  to  airport  safety  or  security
equipment he is invited to send it to the Commission or to the relevant national authorities.