WRITTEN QUESTION P-1941/02 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Athens underground railway.
Date: 2002-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, European Regional Development Fund, Greece, construction costs, project management, underground railway

C 28 E/158

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2002)

The Commission is investigating several complaints regarding the compatibility of the proposed A73
motorway on the East bank of the river Meuse between Roermond and Venlo and the Habitats Directive,
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora (1), and the Birds Directive, Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of
wild birds (2).

The Commission is in contact with the Dutch Government on this case. In particular, the Commission is
preparing a letter putting questions to the Dutch government as regards the likely effects of the A73
project on the state of conservation of the species and habitats listed in the two Community Nature
Protection Directives referred to above and the details of the application of the safeguards foreseen by
these Directives.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2003/C 28 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1936/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(26 June 2002)

Subject: Georgia

In its reply to Question H-0372/02 (1), the Commission sets out a long list of severe difficulties with which
Georgia is faced. Would it not agree that, if the current applicant countries had not been offered firm
prospects of accession and negotiations had not been opened with them, problems that were equally, if
not more, severe would have occurred in those countries too? Accordingly, would it not agree that, as
things stand, its warnings are likely to be seen as mere rhetoric or an easy way out, and that the only
possible political response to the situation in Georgia, and one which takes due account of the interests of
both Georgia itself and of the Union, is to include Georgia in the list of applicant countries immediately
and to draw up, on the basis of close cooperation between the Georgian and EU authorities, a schedule of
reforms that will enable Georgia to join the EU at the earliest opportunity?

(1) Written reply of 11.6.2002.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 July 2002)

For the reasons indicated in the reply to oral question H-0372/02 during question time at Parliament’s
June 2002 session, the Commission believes that under present circumstances it is not appropriate to
address, even theoretically, the question of eventual Union membership or candidate status for Georgia.

(2003/C 28 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1941/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2002)

Subject: Athens underground railway

According to figures from the Greek Government, basic work on the Athens underground railway will cost
approximately 540 billion drachmas (cid:1) 430 billion to adjust the initial cost of 180 billion set out in the
1988 agreement to take account of inflation and successive exchange rate fluctuations, and the 110 billion
cost of work to improve the railway’s safety and appearance. Together with the costs for administration,

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Official Journal of the European Union

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studies on extensions to the line, compulsory purchases and all associated works, the cost amounts to
705 billion, and if interest on loans and VAT are added to the above, the cost totals 952,7 billion
drachmas.

The Commission:

(cid:1) Does it agree with these figures? If not, what are its own figures?

(cid:1) Does the EU believe that there have been any contraventions, shortcomings in transparency or
instances of maladministration in the Athens underground railway company’s handling of the project?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 July 2002)

On the basis of information received from the Greek authorities, the cost of the basic project of the Athens
Metro is EUR 2 066 million, VAT and interest excluded. This amount covers the two lines, Sepolia-Dafni
and National Defense-Monastiraki, including 19 stations, the Sepolia depot, the rolling stock, the parallel
and additional works, the expropriations and the cost for the management of the project by the company
Attiko Metro.

European Regional Development Fund contribution to the financing of the basic project amounted to
EUR 200 million under the 1989-1993 Community Support Framework (CSF) for Greece. An additional
EUR 733 million under the 1994-1999 CSF and EUR 750 million under the 2000-2006 CSF were also
allocated to the project.

As for any payment request presented to the Commission by the Member States for operations cofinanced
by the Structural Funds, those presented for the Athens Metro project must include expenditure incurred in
legislation. Controls executed by both the national and the
conformity with Community and national
community competent authorities aim to ensure the respect of this principle. In case of irregularities,
financial corrections are applied, as provided by the regulations relating to the Structural Funds. No such
corrections have been applied in relation to the Athens metro.

(2003/C 28 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1951/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) and Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject:

’Forgotten’ pesticides

(3 July 2002)

The recent German food scandal can be attributed partly to carelessness and a serious error: wheat and
barley were stored in a warehouse in the former East Germany which under the communist regime had
been used to store pesticides that are now banned. On the other hand, this food scandal makes it clear that
more attention needs to be paid to the problem of ‘obsolete pesticides’, i.e. pesticides which are out of date
or have been ‘forgotten’.

Tons of these pesticides, the vast majority of which are completely banned in Europe, still linger on, inter
alia in the former Eastern Bloc. They are seeping into the ground, with disastrous consequences. It is
suspected that the sites where the pesticides were produced are also seriously polluted. Although no
complete inventory of these pesticides exists, it is known for example that in the applicant country Poland
between 50 000 and 60 000 tonnes of such pesticides remain in storage without proper management.
Worldwide, it has been estimated that one million tonnes of POPs, dioxins and PCBs are in a similar
situation.

Does the Commission recognise the risk to public health which these pesticides represent?

What measures will it take to solve this problem?

Has the Commission urged the applicant countries to draw up an inventory of ‘forgotten’ pesticides? How
will the Commission help the applicant countries to destroy their ‘forgotten’ pesticides in a safe, proper
and environmentally sound manner?

What is the Commission doing to help tackle and solve this problem elsewhere in the world as well?