EIB and EU funding for improving the operational efficiency of the N. Kazantzakis Airport in Heraklion
| 20 April 2015 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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The N. Kazantzakis Airport in Heraklion is the third busiest in Greece in terms of passenger numbers. Thousands of EU tourists make use of the airport facilities which are, however, greatly overstretched and insufficient to meet increasing passenger demand.
The minister responsible under the previous government announced in November 2014 that the European Investment Bank had earmarked EUR 15 million for measures to improve the operational efficiency of the airport.
However, nothing has been done to carry out the infrastructural works urgently needed to achieve this.
In view of this:
| 1. | What action can the Commission take, in cooperation with the Greek authorities, to help secure EIB funding to improve the operational efficiency of the N. Kazantzakis Airport? |
| 2. | What funding can it provide under EU programmes for the infrastructural works necessary to improve the operational efficiency of the N. Kazantzakis Airport? |
Source: European Parliament
Answer given by Ms Creţu on behalf of the Commission
The European Investment Bank (EIB), an independent European institution, has separate funding procedures and criteria to those of the European Structural and Investment Funds managed by the Commission. It falls upon the Greek authorities to comply with the EIB assessment and criteria.
The Heraklion airport is located on the core network of the TEN-T Regulation 1315/2013 and is part of the Orient East-Med TEN-T Corridor. Greek authorities may apply for support under the Connecting Europe Facility Regulation 1316/2013 under the conditions set by the calls for proposals.
Concerning the European Structural and Investment Funds , the Nikos Kazantzakis airport is not part of the Strategic Transport Investment Framework that the Greek authorities have elaborated in order to set their transport investment priorities for the forthcoming years. Thus, it is not included in any 2014-2020 programme, thematic or regional.
The development and efficiency improvements of the airport could also be subject if the Greek authorities wish so, to potential support by the future “European Fund for Strategic Investment” presented by the Commission.
1. Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network and repealing Decision No 661/2010/EU, OJ L 348, 20.12.2013, p. 1–128
2. Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, amending Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 680/2007 and (EC) No 67/2010 , OJ L 348, 20.12.2013, p. 129–171
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