WRITTEN QUESTION No. 809/99 by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS Progress of work to complete the northern road axis in Crete
Date: 1999-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, HATZIDAKIS
Subjects: Crete, EU aid, building industry, co-financing, invitation to tender, large-scale construction, public works, regional development, road building, transport infrastructure

3.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 348/135

(cid:1) B7-6008 (cid:1) 5 projects:

(cid:1) Caritas Österreich, Vienna (also Salzburg and Graz),
(cid:1) Verein Susret-Begegnung, Bregenz,
(cid:1) Berufsförderungsinstitut, Vienna,
(cid:1) International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Vienna (two projects).

Owing to the volume of detailed information on the projects referred to above, this has been sent direct to the
Honourable Member and Parliament’s Secretariat.

(1999/C 348/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0809/99

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Progress of work to complete the northern road axis in Crete

(22 March 1999)

According to information published recently by the Greek Ministry for Regional Planning, the Environment
and Public Works, 55 km. of the northern road axis in Crete are expected to be opened to traffic in the Year
2000. This is an infrastructure project of capital
importance for the development of the island, but
implementation has for years been progressing at a snail’s pace. This is confirmed by the recently published
information which merely adds urgency to the question why completion of this project has been delayed for so
long.

In particular, why was a time-consuming solution adopted under which the national authorities award
contracts on a section by section basis, instead of a project manager being recruited, as occurred in the case of
other road projects (for example, the Egnatia road project)?

Given that this project forms part of the CSF for Greece (Crete Regional Programme), will the Commission say
what are the grounds for the excessive delays, whether there exists a time schedule for the completion of the
project and when construction work is finally expected to be completed so that the road axis can be opened to
the inhabitants of Crete?

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

(21 April 1999)

The improvement of the northern road axis in Crete is indeed a priority project of importance for the
development of the region. The roads operational programme (OP) for 1994-99, the regional OP for Crete for
the same period and the Interreg Community Initiative are all part-financing the construction of several
sections of this road axis, which is due to be completed in 2000-01. So far there is no delay in implementation.

The Commission does indeed consider that the best way to ensure that major infrastructure construction
projects part-financed by Community funds in Greece are carried out within a foreseeable and reasonable time,
at a cost and to a quality that meet the standards and comply with the legislation in force, is generally for them
to be managed by public limited liability companies. However, in the case of the part of the northern road axis
in Crete to be built in 1994-99, since all the sections together will cover only 55 kilometres, there was no
justification for creating a public limited liability company for this purpose alone.

(1999/C 348/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0821/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Commission

(6 April 1999)

Subject: ENEL power line in Valnerina

The Italian national electricity company has decided to build a power line across a section of the areas covered
by the Terni and Spoleto town councils and to erect pylons in inhabited areas and areas of outstanding natural
beauty.