WRITTEN QUESTION E-1170/02 by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE)and Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Construction of Athens tram system.
Date: 2002-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, application of EU law, competition law, countryside conservation, environmental impact, public awareness campaign, public works, rail network

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/99

In order to ensure that Community law is correctly applied, the Commission shall investigate the matter of
deepening of the port of Piraeus and of its environmental effects. A letter shall be sent in this effect to the
competent Greek authorities requesting information on the matter raised by the Honorable Member.

(1) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976.
(2) Parliament and Council Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action

in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2002/C 301 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1170/02

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE)
and Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 April 2002)

Subject: Construction of Athens tram system

As part of the operational programme for ‘railways, airports and urban transport’ under the 3rd CSF, the
Greek Ministry of Transport and Communications is pressing ahead with the construction of a tram
system consisting of two lines:

(cid:1) Zappeion (cid:1) Nea Smyrni (Achilleos) (cid:1) Palio Faliro (cid:1) Neo Faliro and

(cid:1) Neo Faliro (cid:1) Palio Faliro (cid:1) Ayios Kosmas (cid:1) Glyfada.

Transport engineers and other experts have raised objections to the route finally chosen (via Nea Smyrni
instead of Syggrou Avenue and via the seafront at Palio Faliro) and to the tight schedule for carrying out
the work (cid:1) forming part of the timetable for works relating to the Olympic Games (cid:1) which leaves no
margin for reviewing any shortcomings in surveying and planning. Moreover, the inhabitants of Nea
Smyrni, Alimos, Glyfada and Palio Faliro have protested (the last-mentioned have in fact appealed to the
Council of State), while three of the town councils involved have rejected the proposed route on the
grounds that it would ruin the seafront, an area of exceptional beauty, without resolving the traffic
problem. Traffic lanes would be lost or substantially narrowed and bus routes cut and services reduced.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Have a complete transport study and an advisability study duly been carried out to consider other,
more cost-effective solutions? What comparative study justifies the choice of route one instead of the
route via Syggrou Avenue (our information suggests that there is none)?

2. Has a complete environmental impact assessment been carried out (2000 trees would apparently have
to be destroyed) and were the public consulted at the stage when the route and the environmental
impact assessment of the works were adopted?

3. Have all the requirements of Community and national law concerning competition and the social

value of the project been met?

4. What is the timetable for completion of the project and how realistic is it?

5. How has it come about that, despite its lack of experience in carrying out a project on this scale,

TRAM A.E. has been chosen as the most appropriate firm to complete this project?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2002)

On the basis of
the information received from the Greek managing authority responsible for the
operational programme ‘Railways, Airports, Urban Transport 2000-2006’, the Commission is able to
provide the following responses to the questions raised by the Honorable Member.

C 301 E/100

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

The most complete and recent transport study covering both transport infrastructure and the public
1.
transport system in the region of Attika, is the Metro Development Study prepared with the co-ordination
of Attiko Metro Company. The alignment finally chosen by the Greek authorities for the Athens tramway
follows the conclusions of the above mentioned study. Alternative alignments have been examined, but the
one finally proposed by this study and selected for support serves the transport needs of a large part of the
Athens urban area better.

The managing authority has confirmed that an environmental impact study has been carried out and
legislation have been

2.
the rules on publicity and consultation of the public provided by the national
respected for the Athens tramway.

3.
The agency ‘Tram Ltd’ has launched an extensive information campaign for the project, targeting, in
particular, to the nine municipalities which will be directly served by the tram. The managing authority
confirms that all the rules of national and Community law concerning tendering procedures have been
respected.

The objective set for the completion of the project is the first semester of 2004, so that it can service
4.
the 2004 Olympic Games. The Greek authorities consider this objective to the both ambitious but realistic.

The agency ‘Tram Ltd’

5.
is a subsidiary of Attiko Metro Company which has extensive direct
experience in rail public transport systems construction and operation. It should also be recalled that this is
the first project of its kind in Greece in the period since the 1960s.

(2002/C 301 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1174/02

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 April 2002)

Subject: Position of power of media undertakings

As a result of the recent bankruptcy of the Kirch Media Group German pay-TV football organisations can
expect as of next season to forego the estimated EUR 358 million in TV rights that they currently receive.
This leaves the clubs in a difficult position, with the sword of Damocles of players’ salaries hanging over
them. The bankruptcy shows how a whole industry can be ruined as a result of a disproportionate
dependency on a single company. The situation in Germany is not a one-off case. In other Member States
too the football industry depends for an excessively large part of its income on companies with monopoly
or quasi-monopolistic positions.

1.

Does the Commission have information about the failure of Kirch in Germany?

2.
Does the Commission take the view that this is a case of authorised cartel formation, with the result
that a whole sector, in this case the football industry, has become disproportionately dependent for its
income on a monopoly holder, so that as soon as the monopoly holder runs into trouble the industry is
dragged along with it, making it necessary to give state support to suffering clubs in order to placate
public opinion, which then conflicts with Article 87 of the EU Treaty concerning unlawful state aid?

3.

Does the Commission know if Kirch’s broadcasting rights form part of the bankruptcy assets?

Is the Commission prepared to take measures to prevent such practices in future and, if so, what

4.
measures?