Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-03-13-Speech-2-295"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20010313.16.2-295"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
".
To go back to the previous debate, I would like to say to Mrs Ferrer and other speakers that I saw the importance of Catalan when I visited Barcelona on Friday.
If you agree, I shall now turn to the question that Mr Papayannakis asked me about major projects undertaken as part of the Community support framework in Greece, and in Athens, in particular. Mr Papayannakis, the term ‘major projects’ has a very precise meaning in the rules on the Structural Funds, since it refers to a project which is granted a budget of more than EUR 50 million. Since there are quite a number of projects of this type in Greece, which receive cofinancing from the Cohesion Fund or the Regional Fund, mainly in the transport, environment and energy sectors, it is difficult for me to give a very accurate and thorough answer now, in a matter of minutes.
Mr Papayannakis, I would like to reiterate that granting a project Community cofinancing does not alter the fact that national authorities are still responsible for carrying out the project. Furthermore, the information at the Commission’s disposal is, of course, initially provided by those same authorities. Rest assured that we certainly do take an interest in how the projects and their costs are progressing. Our overriding concern, moreover, is to ensure that the financial resources granted by the Community to Greece enhance progress and the quality of life of the Greek citizens and this concern applies to all Member States.
With regard to major projects in Greece, there are three types or categories, rather; the first includes those that have already been completed, and here I am thinking of the Athens underground system and Spata airport, which is due to be inaugurated in May. Some of these projects have also been undertaken with or on the basis of concession contracts. I could have mentioned other projects within the first category but the second category includes projects that are ongoing and that are also being undertaken with concession contracts, such as the Athens ring road and the Rio-Antirio bridge. The Athens ring road should be completed at the end of 2003 and the bridge completed in 2004. There are, of course, other projects that I do not have time to mention, which have, in general, also been undertaken with concession contracts.
It is difficult for me to give a deadline for the completion of the work, Mr Papayannakis, as there are many projects and therefore many deadlines that will fall due over a period of time. Does this mean that we shall no longer exert pressure to ensure that progress is made with these or other projects, such as the extension of the Athens underground? Certainly not. I would like to repeat that, in accordance with the new rule for the Structural Funds, of which you are aware, Mr Papayannakis, we should remember that expenditure on programmes, which are part of these major projects, must evolve in line with the programme, and the Member States risk financial penalties if this does not happen.
I would therefore like to reassure you, Mr Papayannakis, and inform you that the Commission’s departments will closely monitor the rate of progress and the changes in costs of these programmes and projects within the European Union as a whole, and in Greece in particular. With regard to Athens, because I, like you, am committed to successfully preparing for the next Olympic Games, in 2004, I am also extremely anxious that the projects financed by the European Structural Funds and which will contribute to the success of the Olympic Games, run smoothly.
Lastly, I shall briefly touch on the subject of quality control. Not long ago, on 29 January, the Commission’s departments requested detailed information from the Greek Government on the independent checks that had been decided for the cofinanced projects in Greece. As soon as I receive this information, Mr Papayannakis, I shall be able to pass this on to you.
The European Anti-Fraud Office has also said that it has not yet received any communication from the Greek authorities pursuant to Regulation No 1681/94 concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the structural policies and the organisation of an information system in this field.
Mr Papayannakis, these are the details that I can give to you today."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples