WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2120/98 by Antonios TRAKATELLIS to the Commission. Violations, omissions and shoddy workmanship in connection with the implementation of projects in Greece under the Second CSF and the Cohesion Fund and responsibility for these failings
Date: 1998-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, TRAKATELLIS
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, Greece, building, infringement procedure (EU), joint committee (EU), public works, supervisory body

19. 11. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 354/131

(98/C 354/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2120/98

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Violations, omissions and shoddy workmanship in connection with the implementation of projects in
Greece under the Second CSF and the Cohesion Fund and responsibility for these failings

The report by the joint steering committee and recent press reports raise important questions about the proper
implementation  of  projects  undertaken  in  Greece  within  the  framework  of  the  Second  Community  Support
Framework and the Cohesion Fund. In particular these reports note a number of violations, omissions and cases
of shoddy workmanship by the construction companies and attribute responsibility for projects worth a total of
Drs 2 billion to the supervising bodies and the relevant ministries; the possibility of recovering the money is also
being considered. Will the Commission say:

1. What  violations,  omissions  and  cases  of  shoddy  workmanship  is  it  apprised  of  or  have  been  otherwise
detected, and which projects are concerned?

How  is  the  implementation  of  projects  monitored  and  to  what  extent  is  this  monitoring  adequate  and

2.
effective?

3. Which bodies are responsible for the violations and what sanctions are provided for?

4. What measures are being proposed specifically to rectify omissions and also to avoid similar incidents in
future?

How will it ensure the proper use of the funds set aside in the Community budget for the implementation of

5.
projects?

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

(8 July 1998)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and
will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.

(98/C 354/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2176/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Report on quality control of 2nd CSF projects

The report drawn up following the quality control of projects carried out under the 2nd CSF concludes that nearly
half of the regional development projects jointly funded by the EU are technically deficient and will have to be
rectified  or  even  redone  because  they  were  carried  out  on  the  basis  of  faulty  studies  or  using  sub-standard
materials or do not comply with the stipulations of the contract.

The  report  states  that  sample  quality  controls  of  materials  revealed  that  about  50%  of  contractors  had  not
complied with specifications. This applied to all materials except asphalt, for which the figure rose to around
70%.

Is  this  information  correct  and  what  does  the  Commission  intend  to  do  to  ensure  that  measures  are  taken  at
government level to compel the contractors responsible to carry out the necessary alterations or the entire project
again in order to comply with their contractual obligations, wherever these have been breached?