WRITTEN QUESTION E-0773/03 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Budget overruns in the construction of the Attiki Odos motorway.
Date: 2003-03-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Greece, European Regional Development Fund, budget appropriation, direct cost, financial aid, road building

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/85

Public opinion in Norway has recently denounced TGS-NOPEC on the grounds that its activities in the
waters of Western Sahara infringe international law with regard to prospecting for and possibly exploiting
the natural resources of a non-autonomous territory pending its decolonisation.

Given the Lalumière Report by the European Parliament on the situation in Western Sahara, and the
circumstances surrounding this long-standing dispute and the presence of a Community undertaking in
this prospecting for energy resources and their subsequent exploitation, what position does the Council
take with regard to the current situation of test drilling and possible exploitation?

Reply

(22 July 2003)

Discussions on the final settlement of the Western Sahara question are being conducted within the United
Nations Security Council, as well as with the parties concerned, and are currently at a decisive stage.
The Council is following these discussions closely and wholeheartedly supports the efforts of the United
Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr James Baker,
in the quest for a lasting solution fully
observing international
law, human rights and democracy. The discussions taking place within the
framework of the United Nations have now reached a critical point for securing a positive outcome to a
conflict dating back almost 30 years.

Mr Baker visited the region in January 2003 to present the parties and neighbouring countries with the
terms of a proposal for a political solution to the conflict, ensuring self-determination in accordance with
Security Council Resolution 1429 (2002). Minurso’s mandate has been extended until 31 May 2003 to
give the parties sufficient time to examine the proposal and submit their responses. The Security Council
has requested the Secretary-General to provide it with a further report by 19 May 2003.

The Council has not so far discussed the specific matter raised by the Honourable Member.

(2003/C 280 E/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0773/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 March 2003)

Subject: Budget overruns in the construction of the Attiki Odos motorway

In its answer to my question (P-0239/03 (1)) the Commission has failed the answer the question I had put,
doubtless owing to a misunderstanding. It stated that the total cost of the construction of the Attiki Odos
motorway was EUR 1 713 million, which is less than the sum of EUR 3 175 million which it had
mentioned in its answer to a previous question (E-2894/01 (2)), presumably because the answer to the
former question refers only to the period 2000-2006. It also fails to mention whether there have been any
overruns and, if so, what the reasons for these overruns are.

In view of the above, the Commission is once again asked to say:

(cid:1) What was the budget for the Attiki Odos motorway when construction work began?

(cid:1) What overruns have been noted since construction work began and what are the reasons for these

overruns?

(cid:1) What is the overall construction cost for the Attiki Odos motorway as it has grown with the passage

of time, including the overruns?

(1) OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 200.
(2) OJ C 115 E, 16.5.2002, p. 189.

C 280 E/86

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2003)

the concession contract signed in 1996 between the Greek Authorities and the
On the basis of
concessionaire for the construction of the Athens ring (Attiki odos), an amount of EUR 1 248,7 million, at
current prices, is provided for the lump sum price object of the contract. This object corresponds to the
project to be constructed and managed under the full responsibility of the concessionaire. The amount is
composed of EUR 418,2 million of public contribution and EUR 830,5 million of private contribution.

The same contract provides for parallel public works not
included in the lump sum object, of
EUR 146,75 million at current prices, and gives the possibility that the value of these parallel works is
increased by 50 %. The contract provides also for the possibility of additional works up to an amount of
50 % of the lump sum price of EUR 1 248,7 million. Such works have been subsequently approved, in
most cases after court decisions in relation to improved environmental conditions in some areas affected
by the Athens ring road.

On the basis of information provided by the responsible national authorities the total amount of parallel
and additional works as provided for in the concession contract is EUR 220 million and EUR 571,21 mil-
lion respectively at current prices. Together with the EUR 1 248,7 million allocated to the lump sum
object, this makes a grand total of around EUR 2 040 million.

Other cost elements of the project, which are not included in the concession contract, are expropriations,
fees for independent engineers and consultants, archaeology and moving the network of public utilities. If
these cost elements are also added to the above mentioned grand total of EUR 2 040 million corresponding
to the concession contract, then the total cost of the project of Attiki odos, including the concession
contract and the other cost elements not linked with it, is about EUR 3,2 billion.

Attiki odos is a measure of the Operational Programme ‘Road Axes-Ports-Urban Development 2000-2006’,
and at the same time a major project under the terms of Articles 25 and 26 of Council Regulation (EC)
No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the structural funds (1).

The European Regional Development Fund’s (ERDF) assistance requested for this project under the
Community Support Framework (CSF) III is EUR 476 million, corresponding to a public expenditure of
EUR 951 million and a total cost,
including private contribution, of EUR 1 713 million. The assistance
requested concerns a part of the lump sum object, parts of the parallel and additional works of the
concession contract, as well as parts of the other cost elements of the project. There is no possibility of
increasing this ERDF assistance amount in the future, with additional funds from the CSF 2000-2006 or
from the Cohesion Fund.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2003/C 280 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0776/03

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(12 March 2003)

Subject: Comitology

The committees established pursuant to Decision 1999/468/EC (1), laying down the procedures for the
exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, comprise one representative per Member
State, plus a Commission representative who acts as chairman.

Can the Council tell me whether there is any problem in Member States’ sending representatives of
regional governments as members of these committees? How many regional representatives, if any, are
currently members of these committees?

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.