WRITTEN QUESTION P-2182/02 by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Persistent conflict of interests in the DG for Transport.
Date: 2002-07-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, European official, Greece, award of contract, duties of civil servants, invitation to tender, trans-European network, transport network

C 28 E/198

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

The other proposals foreseen for the second semester 2002, in non-legally binding form, are not less
important but require further technical analysis and preparatory work, including, for example, discussion
with each Member State on the possible economic and social impact of the proposed measures.

The Commission will endeavour to ensure that
Parliament as soon as possible and in any case before the end of 2002.

these proposals are presented to the Council and

(1) COM(2002) 181 final.

(2003/C 28 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2182/02

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Persistent conflict of interests in the DG for Transport

(12 July 2002)

The Commission’s answer dated 25 June 2002 to my Written Question P-1566/02 (1) is not satisfactory.

My written question concerned a Greek motorway, the Via Egnatia, which has been given priority under
the TEN Programme. One of the main beneficiaries of this project is Egnatia SA. The managing director of
this entity is the husband of the Head of Unit who drew up the draft decision relating to financial
assistance. This constitutes a serious conflict of interest.

Will the Commission confirm that the Head of Unit in question drew up the draft decision on this project
for approval by the Financial Committee (the Committee established under Regulation (EC) No 2236/
95 (2))?

Will the Commission confirm that the Head of Unit in question is responsible for the general management
of the TEN project which includes the general guidelines for the Via Egnatia?

the Commission confirm that

Will
the spokesman for Commissioner Loyola de Palacio (quoted in
‘European Voice’) was mistaken when he claimed that the Head of Unit in question had been moved to
another post?

Will the Commission confirm that Egnatia SA is the final beneficiary of the financial assistance, and will it
please inform Parliament as to how much money has been given to Egnatia SA to date?

Apparently, 160 small contracts have been signed with regard to studies for the Via Egnatia. Will the
Commission please explain what these studies cover and how they comply with the objectives of the
programme? Will it also indicate whether it has carried out any on-the-spot checks and, if so, what the
outcome was?

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 181.
(2) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995, p. 1.

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

The Commission has already answered some of the Honourable Member’s questions in its reply to written
question P-1566/02, concerning, inter alia, the responsibilities of the Head of Unit in charge of trans-
European network project management (TEN-T). In its previous reply, the Commission clearly indicated
that, to avoid any possible conflict of interest, since January 2001 the Head of Unit in question was not
dealing with matters relating to the Egnatia project which is part of the PATHE-Egnatia Essen priority
project, and that any questions on the project would be dealt with by the official in charge of TEN-T
projects for Greece, who would report directly to the competent Director. The Director is also in charge of
the general management of TEN-T projects, including the general guidelines for these projects.

6.2.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/199

The following financial information supplements that already provided.

The Egnatia section in question is financed by Community contributions under several budget headings:

(cid:1) European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund: EUR 1 914 million under

Community support frameworks for the periods 1994-1999 and 2000-2006;

(cid:1) TEN-T (EUR 30 million under the Multiannual Indicative Programme 2001-2006).

This cofinancing is granted by Commission Decisions,
in accordance with the rules laid down in the
relevant regulations. The funds are paid to the Greek Ministry of Economic Affairs, not directly to Egnatia
Odos S.A.

Egnatia Odos S.A. was designated by the Ministry as the final recipient of the funds provided by the
Community. As project manager one of its jobs is to conclude contracts for studies, both technical and
environmental, for all phases of the project and for the construction of the different sections of the road.
As is the case for almost all transport infrastructure projects, given the complexity of the work, the
contracts are awarded in lots (cid:1) following an invitation to tender (cid:1) to the tenderers who submit the best
bid. It was within this framework that the contracts referred to by the Honourable Member were awarded.
The awarding procedures and overall relevance of such contracts are checked by the Commission.

The Commission departments involved, which collaborate closely with one another, regularly carry out
administrative, technical and financial checks, to monitor the project’s development and ensure that the
funds allocated are being properly used. These routine investigations have not revealed any irregularities in
the management of the Egnatia project.

For the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, the Commission regularly checks the monitoring systems
set up by the Member States, as they are responsible for providing reasonable assurance that the funds are
soundly managed. Within the limits of the resources available the Commission carries out additional on-
site checks on a sample range of projects.

The funds from the TEN-T budget, totalling EUR 30 million for the period 2001-2006, are revised
annually on the basis of the Project Status Report and before any final payment is made on-site checks are
carried out to ensure that everything is bona fide and has been properly done in accordance with the rules.

Regarding the allusion to an article in the European Voice newspaper, the Commission spokesman for
transport and energy denied the allegations made in the article and gave a detailed explanation of the
situation in a letter published in the European Voice of 27 June 2002.

(2003/C 28 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2187/02

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 July 2002)

Subject: Creation of a national marine park in the region of Kimolos

According to a letter of protest from the committee of permanent residents of the island of Kimolos, a
study has been carried out by the environmental organisation Mom on the creation of a national marine
park, which will extend to cover the whole of the island of Poliegos and half of Kimolos, together with the
sea for a distance of one nautical mile around these islands. The residents of the region contend that they
do not threaten the seals or other animals in the area in any way. They believe that, on the pretext of
environmental and ecological protection, sections of land are being seized and encroached upon and
restrictive measures are being placed on sea regions and coastal areas of the islands, as has also been
observed in the Zakynthos region.