WRITTEN QUESTION P-0347/03 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Attica Highway.
Date: 2003-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Greece, European Regional Development Fund, budget appropriation, operational programme, project management, road building, toll, town traffic

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/173

These differences do not affect areas removed from borders between Member States, but they are having a
particular impact on Roussillon, a region with a very frail economy.

What measures will the Commission take to compensate, if possible, for the economic handicap brought
about by these circumstances?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2003)

Under current Community law, direct taxation still falls essentially within the competence of Member
States. From past experience, the Commission knows that difficulties may arise in crossborder situations
because of differences in the existing tax systems of different Member States. There may be problems, for
example, of discrimination and obstacles to the exercise of the four freedoms.

Provided that Member States respect the EC Treaty provisions, they are free to choose the tax systems that
they consider appropriate and according to their preferences. Tax levels have links to the level of public
expenditure which is equally a matter for national preferences as long as this is adequately met by
revenues in such a way that budget positions remain close to balance or in surplus. Nevertheless, in its
Communication on tax policy in the Union (cid:1) Priorities for the years ahead (1), the Commission suggested
that better co-ordination of tax systems might be necessary in order to prevent discrimination in cross-
border situations or to remove obstacles to the exercise of the four freedoms.

As regards social security in general, Community law does not detract from the power of Member States to
organise their social security systems. In the absence of harmonisation at Community level, it is therefore
for the legislation of each Member State to determine the level of social security contributions but the
Member State must comply with Community law when exercising that power. In addition, it should be
borne in mind that such contributions are only one element of total labour costs and that what matters
from the point of view of competition are labour costs in relation to productivity (‘unit labour cost’).
including the level of skills and the quality of public
Productivity depends on a number of factors,
infrastructure.

Since the situation described by the Honourable Member does not appear to represent a breach of
Community law, the Commission has no reason to take any particular measures.

(1) COM(2001) 260 final.

(2003/C 192 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0347/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 February 2003)

Subject: Attica Highway

The Attica Highway, a project co-funded by the European Union, is a major project which will ease the
traffic problems facing Athens and, above all, facilitate access to and from the City’s ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’
international airport.

When was the relevant contract signed and ratified?

What was the original budget for this project, what was the funding plan, what is the level of participation
of the bodies involved in funding the project, how much has each one contributed separately so far and
how much are they due to contribute until the project is completed?

What overshoots of the original budget have occurred so far (in total and by sector), why did these
overshoots occur and who bears the costs?

C 192 E/174

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

Have additional contracts been signed between the Greek State and the Attica Highway consortium? If so,
in respect of which projects, with which budget and by which procedures?

Is it legal to levy tolls on a section of this highway before the entire project is completed?

Why is the adoption of a legal framework in Greece for projects co-funded by the European Union being
delayed?

Who protects the interests of European citizens? Do any bodies exist at EU level charged with doing so? If
so, what is their view on this matter? In the case of the Attica Highway, are the interests of the European
taxpayer being protected?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the answer given by the Commission to written question P-
0239 by Mr Hatzidakis (1).

By way of a supplement to that answer, the Commission is able provide further details on the basis of
information notified to it by the competent national authorities. The concession contract for the Attica
highway, which entered into force on 6 March 2000 for a period of 23 years, gives the concessionaire the
possibility of levying tolls on sections of the highway as soon as these are completed and open to the
public. The concessionaire does not necessarily have to wait for the entire project covered by the
concession contract to be completed. The Greek authorities have, moreover, told the Commission that the
project is expected to be completely finished by the end of 2003, within the contractual time limits.

The implementation of operations part-financed by the Structural Funds is mainly a matter for, and the
responsibility of, the Member States. In Greece, the relevant basic legal framework is Law 2860/2000 on
the management, follow-up and supervision of the 2000-2006 Community Support Framework, which
was adopted in November 2000.

The social and economic advantages to be gained from the Attica highway are seen in a positive light both
by the national authorities and the European Investment Bank, which is acting for the project in its
capacity as the Commission’s consultant.

(1) OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 200.

(2003/C 192 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0350/03

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(6 February 2003)

Subject: Cost to the budget of applying the weighting factor to Community officials’ pensions

At present a variable weighting factor is applied to the pensions paid to former Community officials on
the basis of their place of residence, with the base weighting being 100 for Belgium. In its proposal for a
regulation amending the Staff Regulations applicable to officials and other servants of the European
Communities, the Commission has suggested that this weighting be adjusted.