WRITTEN QUESTION E-1799/03 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Delays affecting the construction of the northern Ionian highway and the viability of the Rion-Antirion link.
Date: 2003-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, Community support framework, EU aid, Greece, award of contract, feasibility study, project management, road building, transport infrastructure, works contract

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/97

Right from its starting phase on beginning, Eurojust has made use of those provisions by establishing
various contacts with Members of Parliament. For instance, the Commission has been informed that
Members of the Parliament’s Committees on Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights and Justice/Home Affairs and
on Budgetary Matters have been invited to Eurojust. The Commission appreciates this.

Furthermore, Eurojust has published its first annual report (3) and provided copies to Parliament. According
to the Council Decision (Article 32), Eurojust so far only had to report to the Council and the Commission
(the Joint Supervisory Body on data protection only to the Council, Article 23(12)) (4). On proposal of the
Commission (5), the Council Decision is going to be adapted to the new Financial Regulation. In this
context, the Commission proposed among other things that the report be sent directly to the Parliament;
amendment is likely to be adopted by the Council soon (6).

In this context,
particularly if either the Parliament or Eurojust considers this necessary.

the Commission is ready to provide support

for further arrangements if need be,

(1) OJ L 63, 6.3.2002, p. 5.
(2) As concerns the Commission, the Rules of Procedure (OJ C 286, 22.11.2002, Article 21(5)) expressly exclude access
to operational data, although the Commission is fully associated with the work of Eurojust, Article 11(1) of the
Council Decision.

(3) Council doc. 9124/03 Eurojust 11.
(4) The Council Decision provides only for a report by the Presidency of the Council to the Parliament, but no direct

report, Article 32(2).

(5) OJ C 331 E, 31.12.2002, p. 67.
(6) See Interinstitutional File 2002/0173, Council doc. 9015/03 of 19.5.2003.

(2004/C 58 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1799/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Delays affecting the construction of the northern Ionian highway and the viability of the Rion-

Antirion link

The northern section of the western (Ionian) highway in Greece for which concession contracts are to be
awarded is being delayed considerably. Furthermore, the financial viability of the new Rion-Antirion
bridge, scheduled for completion in December 2004, will obviously be affected by the late opening of the
Antirion-Ioannina motorway owing to the disruption of traffic flows to and from the bridge.

1. Where exactly does the problem lie regarding the awarding of concession contracts which appears to
be holding up the project?

2. What stage has been reached by work on the sections under construction, when are they scheduled
for completion and when is it anticipated that the northern Ionian highway will function to full capacity?

3. What is the level of Community funding for construction of the northern Ionian highway? Is the
project remaining within its original budget and if not where have the changes occurred?

4. What indications does the Commission have regarding:

(cid:1) the delays affecting completion of the northern Ionian highway and the timetable for redemption of

public and private investment capital;

(cid:1) the financial viability of the Rion-Antirion bridge as affected by the construction of the northern

Ionian highway?

C 58 E/98

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2003)

The north Ionian axe, from Antirio to Ioannina, as well as the section of the PATHE axe from Athens to
Malliakos, form together a concession scheme which has been tendered by the Greek Authorities in
autumn 2001. The phase of the preselection of candidates within this tendering procedure was completed
in autumn 2002. At present, the final tender documents and terms are being prepared by the Greek
Authorities for this concession scheme.

The by-passes of the cities of Agrinio, Arta and Philipiada, are important sections of the north Ionian axe.
They have a total length of 52,5 kilometres (km), and they are now under construction as public works.
They are co-financed by the Community Support Framework, 2000-2006, and by the Cohesion Fund,
2000-2006. On the basis of the information given by the Greek Authorities and the relevant funding
decisions in the case of the Cohesion Fund, the projects should be completed by the end of 2007.

For information regarding the second and third points of his question, the Honourable Member is asked to
refer to the answer given by the Commission to the Written Question P-0386/03 of Mr Averoff (1).

The socio-economic feasibility assessment for the RIO-Antirio bridge undertaken by the Commission and
the European Investment Bank yielded a positive result taking into account the traffic data and projections,
and the capacity of existing transport infrastructures in Epirus, Western Greece and Peloponnese. New
transport infrastructure be completed under the Community Support Framework and the Cohesion Fund,
2000-2006, including the north Ionian axe are also expected to enhance the viability of the RIO-Antirio
bridge.

(1) OJ C 222 E, 18.9.2003, p. 194.

(2004/C 58 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1808/03

by Philip Bradbourn (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Communication COM(2002) 709 final (C5-0202/2003), Target-based tripartite contracts

With regard to the European Commission Communication (1), will the Commission please confirm that the
tripartite contracts and agreements referred to will not override the powers and prerogatives of Member
States in terms of bypassing national economic and social objectives and controls on public expenditure
and also national policies and constitutional arrangements in Member States in respect of their own
regional and local authorities?

(1) COM(2002) 709 final.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 2003)

The Commission can confirm that, pursuant to the Commission communication of December 2002 to
which the Honourable Member refers, involvement by the Member States (central government) is a sine
qua non for the establishment of a target-based tripartite contract or agreement.

‘Since the aim is

In particular, when the communication was adopted, the Commission made its position known in the
following terms:
the clear
identification of local actors to be included in the contract or agreement is an important condition for
success. This identification requires the involvement of the Member States,
if only to ensure that the
contract or agreement is compatible with constitutional, legislative and administrative provisions in force
in each Member State.’

to develop experience and encourage involvement,

It is the Commission’s firm intention to abide by these guidelines on compliance with Member States’
constitutional arrangements when implementing target-based contracts and agreements.