WRITTEN QUESTION E-3198/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Completion of the road link between Patras, Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece).
Date: 2001-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, budget, motorway, project management, transport infrastructure

C 172 E/28

Official Journal of the European Communities

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18.7.2002

expenditure incurred before the Commission has received an application for aid cannot be taken into
consideration for Community part-financing.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1264/1999 of 21 June 1999 amending Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 establishing a

Cohesion Fund, OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 172 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3195/01

by James Provan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: Funding for the European Federation of Journalists

Will the Commission state whether the European Federation of Journalists or the International Federation
of Journalists receive funding or support in any way from the European Commission?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2001)

Neither the European Federation of Journalists nor the International Federation of Journalists receive any
general financial support from the Commission.

The International Federation of Journalists has, however, this year received support for two specific
projects which will improve the information available to journalists who work in/or visit Brussels to cover
European affairs.

(2002/C 172 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3198/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: Completion of the road link between Patras, Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece)

Will the Commission say:

1. What was the original timetable for the completion of the road axis linking Patras with Athens and

Thessaloniki and what is the current timetable for completion?

2. What was the original budget for the road axis linking Patras with Athens and Thessaloniki and what

is the current timetable for completion?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2002)

The Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that, in accordance with
the Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural Funds (1), the efficiency and correctness of management and implementation is the responsibility
of the Greek authorities. Moreover, the operational programmes (OP) do not necessarily include specific
operational timetables for projects co-financed under Structural Funds. In addition the responsibility for
budget decisions for projects lies with the Member States’ authorities.

As far as Community contributions are concerned, the completion of some 400 km of the motorway
between Corinth and Thessaloniki was co-financed by both the European Regional Development Fund and
the Cohesion Fund during the 1989-1993 and 1994-1999 programming periods, to a total of € 1 billion.

For the 2000-2006 programming period, a further 300 km in the PATHE axis from Patras to Thessaloniki
is expected to be co-financed by the Structural Funds, including the Rio Antirio bridge and the Athens

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/29

ring. The OP for roads together with the Cohesion Fund provide for a total expenditure of € 4,6 billion.
This global amount is broken down to € 1,3 billion of Community contributions, € 1,2 billion of national
public subsidy and € 2,1 billion of private investment, in the framework of concession schemes. The
Commission will be informed of the completion of the new sections through the reports that the Greek
authorities are required to submit annually. The expenditure for these projects will be eligible until
31 December 2008.

The total cost of the PATHE axis will be known only when detailed studies, design and construction are
completed for the entire project.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 172 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3210/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Conflict between extending the port of Rotterdam with a second Maasvlakte in the North Sea and

application of the bird directive

1.
Is the Commission aware that, in the 1960s, on the south side of the mouth of the Rhine to the west
of Rotterdam the natural dune coastline, including the De Beer nature reserve with its wealth of birds and
the adjacent shallow area of the North Sea, were replaced by the Maasvlakte, which comprises a port and
industrial area, given over to oil reservoirs, electricity production and container transhipment, and an
adjoining depot for polluted port sludge?

2.
Is the Commission aware that plans are now under way to construct a second Maasvlakte, measuring
in the first instance 500 to 1 000 hectares, by depositing 450 million cubic metres of sea sand, in the sea
to the west of the present Maasvlakte, to assist the further development of the Rotterdam main port?

3. What impact does the Commission expect the second Maasvlakte to have on the flora, fauna and
landscape development of the adjoining nature reserve in the dunes of the former Voorne island and the
courses of the outlets in the Voordelta running to the sea, and what changes may be expected because of
this?

4.
Are you aware that, not only have there been objections in recent years by nature protection
organisations, economic interests are now also at stake because the Dutch fishermen’s association has
invoked the European bird directive as an argument against the second Maasvlakte?

5.
Do you believe it is possible in this case to provide real compensation for the loss of natural assets
along the sea coast in order to comply with the bird directive and, if so, what is required? Will demands
for compensation be satisfied by the plan to establish a nature reserve that is completely different in
character 30 km inland to the south of Rotterdam on the young marine clay land in the polders between
the villages of Rhoon and Barendrecht?

How will it be decided whether the second Maasvlakte is contrary to or compatible with the bird

6.
directive and what impact will this have on the continuation of this project?

Source: Rotterdams Dagblad, 20 October 2001.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2002)

The Commission is aware that the Maasvlakte project, started in 1964, extended the harbour of Rotterdam
into the sea by land reclamation of aproximately 2 000 hectares (ha) south of Hoek van Holland. The
Commission notes that, at that time, no Community legislation on the protection of nature existed.