WRITTEN QUESTION E-2391/99 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Irregularities in the construction of the Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona high speed train link.
Date: 1999-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, Spain, corruption, private sector, rail network, transport infrastructure

C 225 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

The Commission(cid:146)s proposal is accompanied by a financial statement. The proposal is expected to entail an
increase in expenditure of EUR 77 million and an increase in income of EUR 30 million. The impact on
the budget of applying a tariff-only system is not quantifiable at this stage.

(1)

SEC(1999) 1820 final.

(2000/C 225 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2391/99

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Irregularities in the construction of the Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona high speed train link

Two senior members of staff of the Railway Investment Management Body (GIF) which comes under the
Spanish Government(cid:146)s Ministry of Public Works. Have recently been dismissed after giving contracts worth
5 billion pesetas to companies with which they have shareholding links for construction work on the
Madrid-Barcelona-Zaragoza high-speed train link.

Given that the EU(cid:146)s Cohesion Fund is co-funding this construction work is the Commission aware of these
irregularities and if so, does it believe that they should be investigated by the Community authorities?

Does the Commission believe that these facts could delay the high-speed train link or endanger its EU co-
funding? Has the Commission asked the Spanish Government for clarification, and if so, will it do so?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2000)

The Commission is aware of the resignation of two members of the staff of the GIF (the body managing
railway infrastructure) and of the opening of an administrative inquiry.

This inquiry, conducted by the Spanish Ministry of Transport ((cid:145)Fomento(cid:146)), was intended to establish
whether there was a link between these members of staff and the two companies awarded contracts for
construction work on the high-speed railway line from Madrid to Barcelona and the French border and
whether those companies received preferential treatment. The Minister responsible recently presented the
results of the inquiry to the Spanish Parliament.

The contracts in question are not receiving part-financing from the Cohesion Fund but form part of two
groups of projects for which the Spanish authorities have applied for part-financing. This application is
currently being considered.

The Commission is awaiting the results of the inquiry carried out by the Spanish authorities before
deciding what measures to take.

(2000/C 225 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2392/99

by Jean-Claude Martinez (TDI) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Lethal flooding in the south of France

In November 1999, torrential rain, floods, landslides and broken material swept through four southern
French dØpartements, Aude, HØrault, Tarn and the PyrØnØes Orientales, causing widespread devastation and
more than 30 deaths, destroying roads, railway lines and all public electricity, water and telephone