WRITTEN QUESTION P-1250/01 by Regina Bastos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Simplified procedure for the construction of the new bridge at Entre-os-Rios, Portugal.
Date: 2001-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, Portugal, administrative formalities, award of contract, engineering structure, invitation to tender, public works

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/233

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 261 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1250/01

by Regina Bastos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 April 2001)

Subject: Simplified procedure for the construction of the new bridge at Entre-os-Rios, Portugal

On 4 March 2001 a tragic accident occurred on a bridge over the Douro river in Portugal, causing the
deaths of 53 people who were crossing Hintze Ribeiro bridge in a bus and three cars when one of its
pillars collapsed and the central sections plunged into the river.

Over and above the human drama,
repercussions:

this accident

is having extremely serious social and economic

1. Hintze Ribeiro bridge was built 116 years ago and linked Castelo de Paiva and Entre-os-Rios;

2. Castelo de Paiva is a poor rural municipality in inland Portugal;

3. The old bridge was part of the sole route available to make the population of Castelo de Paiva less
isolated and enable them to travel to neighbouring towns and villages on the other side of the river;

4. After the accident Castelo de Paiva became even more isolated, and the population is now forced to
travel for more than two hours along winding, poorly maintained roads to cover 70 or 80 km in
order to obtain hospital care, visit schools and colleges, reach their places of work in the Porto area,
etc.;

5. The Portuguese government has announced that it is to launch the tendering procedure for the

construction of the new bridge over the Douro river in April;

6. The project has a budget of more than € 17,5 million and is to be financed under the third

Community support framework;

7.

It will require an international invitation to tender, which will be subject to national and Community
rules;

8. The foundations for the new bridge will have to be laid very soon,

i.e. during summer 2001,
otherwise work will have to be postponed until May/June 2002 because the strong current in the
Douro river will prevent the work from being undertaken in the winter;

9. The Portuguese government, aware of the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for the
project to be completed, has already put forward internal legislation to reduce the time limits for the
tendering procedure.

Is the Commission prepared, in cooperation with the Portuguese authorities, to find simplified financing
and tendering procedures for the construction of the new bridge at Entre-os-Rios, in line with the urgency
of the project?

C 261 E/234

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2001)

The Commission is aware of the painful social and economic consequences that the populations of the
neighboring region must endure as a result of the tragic accident that occurred with the Entre-os-Rios
bridge and is available to discuss with the national authorities ways to address the problem within the
scope of its responsibility and in accordance with Community legislation.

For the current Structural Funds programming period, the timing for the submission, evaluation and
financing decisions for individual projects are under the responsibility of the managing national authorities
of the individual Programs at the national level, who must decide on the schedules regarding financing
decisions concerning the projects and of course ways to speed up the procedures if needed. Nevertheless
these procedures and decisions must remain compatible with the applicable Community regulations and
programming instruments.

The Commission would also like to inform the Honorable Member that
the Community directives
concerning public tenders such as Council Directive 93/37/CEE of 14 June 1993 concerning the
coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts (1) foresees simplified procedures for
awarding public contracts. Within this legal framework, the Commission is available to respond to any
request from the Portuguese authorities so as to find the most appropriate solution for this case.

(1) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993.

(2001/C 261 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1278/01

by Ant(cid:243)nio Seguro (PSE) to the Commission

(2 May 2001)

Subject: Prepayment at filling stations

Prepayment facilities are increasingly available at petrol pumps. Will the Commission state whether it is
legal for prepayment to be the only possible form of payment at filling stations?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2001)

The matter in question does not come within its jurisdiction of the Commission.

(2001/C 261 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1301/01

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Plans to support the Russian plutonium management and disposition and MOX plutonium fuel

programmes

What communications and collaboration has the Commission had with Member State Governments and
the governments of the G-8 group of leading industrial nations, concerning plans to support the Russian
plutonium management and disposition and MOX plutonium fuel programmes? Are there any plans to
provide financial support from Community funds for these Russian plutonium programmes?