WRITTEN QUESTION E-3658/00 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Extension of the Athens Underground.
Date: 2000-11-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, operational programme, town planning, transport infrastructure, underground railway

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/25

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3653/00, E-3654/00 and E-3655/00
given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

As decided by the Court of Justice, public television broadcasting falls within the terms of the EC Treaty
and the common market principles, including the rules on competition and state aid. In particular, Article
87(1) (ex-Article 92) of the EC Treaty could apply to public radio broadcasting if all the conditions
mentioned therein are met. A State aid may nevertheless be found compatible with the EC Treaty
provisions. Furthermore, Article 86(2) (ex-Article 90) of the EC Treaty provides that a State aid can be
declared compatible when it is necessary for the realisation of a service of general economic interest.

The importance of public service broadcasting is stated in the Protocol on public service broadcasting,
introduced by the Treaty of Amsterdam. The Commission has to take into account this interpretative
Protocol. According to the Protocol it is the competence of Member States to define the public service and
to provide for the funding for this public service, insofar as the funding does not affect trading conditions
and competition in the Community to an extent that would be contrary to the common interest.

The Commission is not able to give a precise opinion at this stage on the specific questions of the
Honourable Member but will in due time and in the light of the above assess all implications of the
requirements of the EC Treaty for the broadcasting sector. As far as the State aid aspect is concernend, the
Commission plans to clarify its position in this context in a communication in the course of this year.

(2001/C 187 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3658/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 November 2000)

Subject: Extension of the Athens Underground

The Greek Government has decided to extend the existing line of the Athens Underground from the
present terminal (cid:145)Ethniki Amini(cid:146) to (cid:145)Stavros Aghias Paraskevis(cid:146) in order to improve links with the new
airport in Athens. According to reliable sources the Government has decided, in order to save money and
speed up the project, to cancel 4 of the 5 stations originally planned on the new section of the extension
which would have served the districts Cholarghos, Aghia Paraskevi, etc.

In order to finance this extension it is planned to use the Community funds already approved for the
Underground extension to Aigaleo, a typical working-class area of Athens. A link with a run-down area of
the City is thus being sacrificed in an attempt to improve links with the airport, a line which is of very
questionable value, given that the scheduled station at Stavros is located many kilometres from the airport.
these
Is the Commission aware of
developments?

these significant changes and if so what view does it

take of

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

The Community support framework (CSF) for Greece for the 2000-2006 programming period contains
finance from the European Regional Development Fund for extensions of the new lines 2 and 3 of the
Athens underground railway and construction of a rail link from the centre of Athens to the new Spata
airport.

C 187 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

The draft operational programme (OP) (cid:145)Main roads, ports, urban development 2000-06(cid:146) submitted to the
Commission by the Greek authorities includes:

(cid:129) for line 2: the (cid:145)Sepolia-Thivon(cid:146) extension of 2,8 km comprising three stations and the (cid:145)Dafni-Ilioupolis(cid:146)

extension of 1,1 km comprising one station;

(cid:129) for line 3: the (cid:145)National Defence-Stavros(cid:146) extension of 5,4 km comprising five stations and the

(cid:145)Monastiraki-Egaleo(cid:146) extension of 4,7 km comprising four stations.

Several studies carried out during the period of preparation of this OP showed that these extensions are
the ones which will best serve a major part of the population of the city of Athens, especially in the most
densely populated districts.

This OP should be approved by the Commission at the beginning of 2001 and the last date for payments
regarding the work part-financed is the end of 2008. The Greek Ministry of Public Works may give
priority to construction of the tunnel for the (cid:145)National Defence-Stavros(cid:146) extension, with a reduced number
of stations, in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games. The complete extension with all the stations
envisaged will, however, have to be completed by the end of 2008.

Moreover, in the future the Greek authorities may undertake the construction of other lines, extensions or
stations on the Athens underground railway, not included in the CSF for 2000-2006.

(2001/C 187 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3676/00

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Emergency aid and relief programmes for flood-struck Mozambique

More than six months have passed since massive floodings struck Mozambique and it is time to make an
assessment of the aid provided by the European Union to date.

How does the Commission assess the cooperation with international organisations and NGOs

1.
through which aid projects are being carried out in Mozambique? What needs to be improved?

2.
Has the experience of the natural disaster in Mozambique led the Commission to revise or improve
its cooperation with the Member States in emergency situations? For example, has the Commission now
taken measures to improve the practical cooperation with EU Member States with regard to the
transportation and distribution of emergency assistance products? Is there an agreed framework with the
Member States on, for instance, the assistance of an army/navy of an EU Member State based in the
proximity of a disaster area in respect of transportation or eventual evacuation activities?

3.
In the direct aftermath of the floodings in Mozambique international aid, including European aid,
was much criticised for having come about too slowly (with the exception of the aid provided by the
neighbouring country of South Africa). Does the Commission intend taking measures in order to improve
action by the EU in situations similar to the one in Mozambique? If so, what are those measures?

Could the Commission provide a report on the structural reform of the Commission delegation in

4.
Maputo, as announced in July 1999?