European Commission’s remarks on Greece’s major infrastructure projects

The European Commission has pointed delays in its fifth post-surveillance report for Greece. The report in fact doesn’t differ much from the previous one sent a few months ago.

The most important problems, according to the report, are the major railway projects in the country, and in particular the completion of PATHEP railway axis to the west end (i.e. the city and port of Patras).

Known delays are also observed in other major projects, such as Athens Metro Line 4, Patras-Pyrgos Motorway, Aktio-Amvrakia (where a new tender is expected), the supply of new city buses for Athens and Thessaloniki, the connection Thessaloniki Port with the national railway network, etc.

For Thriassion Plain, it is reported that the European Commission has begun the process for the return of funds; although negotiations are still ongoing. The paradox here was the signing of the concession agreement and its ratification by the Greek Parliament, without first being approved by the European institutions, as it is the norm.