WRITTEN QUESTION E-0329/02 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Failings in management of 3rd CSF.
Date: 2002-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, Greece, financial control, financial management

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/117

The Council would also draw attention to the existing instruments which cover publication of the results
of votes, minutes statements and agendas for certain types of meetings and the holding of open debates on
important legislative proposals.

The Council is convinced of the benefits of genuine transparency, providing that this can be squared with
the need to safeguard the efficiency and effectiveness of decision-taking.

It should be pointed out in this connection that greater Council transparency,
in particular when the
Council is acting in its legislative capacity, was one of the questions raised by the European Council in the
Laeken Declaration and due to be discussed by the Convention tasked with preparing the forthcoming
Intergovernmental Conference on the reform of the Treaties.

(2002/C 205 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0329/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Failings in management of 3rd CSF

According to reports in the Greek press, a letter was sent on 4 October 2001 from the Director-General of
the Commission’s Directorate-General
for Regional Policy to the Greek authorities, via the Greek
Permanent Representation in Brussels, informing the Greek Government of the outcome of an inquiry
carried out in Greece from 11 to 15 June 2001 concerning the 3rd Community Support Framework.

The Commission ascertained that the management authority responsible for the 3rd CSF 6 appointed by
the Greek Government 6 whose task is to allocate funding and monitor the progress of the contracts and
works, does not in fact function. The Commission also noted a lack of minimum requirements to ensure a
structured, transparent and objective system of evaluating proposals. Only general ‘criteria’ were applied,
creating a risk of adopting proposals which are not the best and vague in terms of cost, quality and the
timetable for completion of the works.

The Commission discovered that there are no documented instructions or lists for checking the works. Nor
is there any detailed and comprehensive contractual agreement between the authority granting the
financial aid and the applicant with the result that, even in the case of projects which are under way, legal
disagreements may arise which have unfortunate implications for the future of the project and its further
funding. There were also failings because the computer system designed to monitor the performance of the
contracts was inoperative. The Commission’s document notes in conclusion that there is no system of
specifications and checks which could guarantee the smooth progress and quality of the projects.

What action will the Commission now take to remedy the shortcomings revealed by its inspectors, and
when?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 2002)

The document that appeared in the Greek press, dated 4 October 2001, was the transmission to the
permanent representation of Greece to the European Union of the main findings, conclusions and
recommendations of an audit mission of the Commission that had been carried out between 11 and
15 June 2001 in Greece, in the framework of a series of preventive audits in the Member States for the
programming period 2000-2006.

The aim of the preventive audit missions is to contribute in a constructive way to the improvement of
management and control systems. The audit mission that was carried out between 11 and 15 June 2001 in
Greece, as well as other missions that followed, are part of an ongoing process to raise standards.

C 205 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

In their reply of 14 November 2001 to the Commission’s observations, the Greek authorities confirmed
that the major part of the auditors’ recommendations had been implemented.

(2002/C 205 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0332/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Rail infrastructure in Greece

Further to Mr Barnier’s answer of 24 January 2002 (P-3122/01 (1)), given on behalf of the Commission,
will the Commission provide the following information:

1. What is the total amount of payments to date from the 2nd CSF for 1994-1999 and from the
Cohesion Fund for each rail infrastructure project in Greece, including rolling stock and studies?

2. What is the total amount of payments made to date by the Commission before and after the changes
to material and financial aspects of the projects relating to the rail links between Thriasio, Elefsina and
Corinth, Evangelismos and Leptokarya, and electrification of the national
inter-city link between
Patras, Athens and Thessaloniki (PATHE)?

3. Were other changes made to rail network projects?

4. What is the total amount of expenditure submitted to the Commission’s departments by Greece in

respect of rail infrastructure in Greece and to what does that expenditure relate?

5. What material and financial aspects of the above three projects have been completed within the new

schedule?

6. The Commission has said that co-funding of the PATHE electrification project has been suspended.
Since the project originally approved was reduced in scope to the funding of a number of studies and
modifications to the existing signalling system, does the Commission consider that the expenditure on
the PATHE electrification project is eligible for co-funding when an absolute condition of such funding
is that the project should be finished and operational?

7. On which dates did the Commission announce the results of its checks and ask for a reply from the

Greek authorities?

8. What is the Commission’s view of the overall outcome of the works carried out by Ergose A.E?

(1) OJ C 147 E, 20.6.2002.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2002)

1.
The total amount paid up to now by the European Regional Development Fund under the
operational programme (OP) ‘Railways’ of the community support framework (CSF) for Greece during the
1994-1999 programming period, including expenditure for rolling stock and studies, is € 363 million. The
Commission proceeds to interim payments to Member States for operational programmes of
the
programming period 1994-1999 on the basis of expenditure declarations presented by them for the
whole operational programme, and has no available data at this stage on the amount paid for each
individual project.