WRITTEN QUESTION E-2838/03 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Destruction of the road linking Paradisia and Tsakona in Messinia.
Date: 2003-09-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Greece, geology, natural disaster, public works, road building

C 65 E/230

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

(2004/C 65 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2838/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 September 2003)

Subject: Destruction of the road linking Paradisia and Tsakona in Messinia

The 13-kilometre road linking Paradisia and Tsakona in Messinia was funded under the 1st and 2nd
Community Support Frameworks and was opened in April 2000. In 1995, the road was already found to
have geological problems and the regional authorities asked the Ministry for the Environment, Planning
and Public Works in July 1995 to carry out a geological study with a view to repairing the road as there
was a landslide problem. Those authorities were ignored.

On 20 March 2000 a report by an advisor to the Ministry stressed the seriousness of the problem. A study
was commissioned and delivered on 29 April 2002, which confirmed that a landslide of 3 000 000 cubic
metres had taken place. No action had been taken to repair the road by 15 January 2003 when the
mountainside collapsed rendering the road unusable.

Can the Commission confirm or deny the above? Were the studies relating to the construction of the

1.
road put into effect? Were satisfactory geological studies carried out?

2. Was a report drawn up by the Special Quality Control Council
(ESPEL) on the qualitative
shortcomings of the above road? Were similar measures taken by the body responsible for inspecting
public works?

3.

Can the Commission jointly finance the reconstruction of the road if the Member State so requests?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2003)

The information provided by the Greek authorities responsible for the day-to-day management of projects
supported by the Structural Funds confirms that a report was submitted on 29 April 2002 indicating the
existence of a landslip affecting the route in question. On the basis of this report a further examination
was carried out in order to evaluate, among other things, the most efficient and effective way of dealing
with the problem. While this examination was being carried out, on 12 January 2003, 15 days before the
landslip, it was decided to close the road due to safety concerns.

The organisation for control, ESPEL, performed two visits to the project in question, documented in two
reports. The phenomenon was not detected during these two visits and the project was classified as clear
from any technical problems or insufficiencies. Following the landslip, the Body of Inspectors of Public
Works inspected the project and the circumstances surrounding the landship, and provided a report which
cleared the managers of the project from responsibility for the damage.

The reconstruction of the road is to be financed entirely from national resources.

(2004/C 65 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2841/03

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Social assistance benefit and right of residence

(25 September 2003)

A problem has arisen with a German family residing in the Netherlands which consists of a single
(divorced) mother aged 50 and three children aged 14, 18 and 19. The 19-year-old daughter has a child
who has both Netherlands and German nationality. The family has lived in the Netherlands for 5 years.
The mother worked in Germany for more than eight years as a frontier worker, after which she was made
redundant. She receives Dutch unemployment benefit pursuant to Article 71(1)(a)(ii) of Regulation (EEC)
No 1408/71 (1). This benefit is to be terminated very shortly. During her period of unemployment the