Fair share of funding for Crete under the Strategic Framework for Investment in Transport 2014-2025

The meagre share of funding earmarked for Crete under the Strategic Framework for Investment in Transport 2014-2025 runs counter to any notion of proportionality, equal treatment or balanced regional development.

For example, Crete is to receive only EUR 251.4 for road works, that is to say 5.7% of the total amount (EUR 4.4 billion) earmarked for this purpose in Greece as a whole.

This is despite the lack of safe roads in Crete, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece, many road improvement projects having ground to a halt through lack of funding.

Of particular concern is northern link road, the scene of dozens of fatal road accidents, as well as the highly dangerous road between Iraklion and Mesara.

In view of this:

What action will the Commission take, and when, to ensure that Crete obtains a fair share of funding under the above strategic framework, thereby ensuring compliance with fundamental EU principles in this respect?

Source: European Parliament

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission

The northern road axis of Kriti(1) is part of the comprehensive Trans-European Network network. In the 2007-2013 period, it is co-financed in the context of the ‘Improving Accessibility’ programme, under the ‘Completion of the construction and upgrade of sections of the northern road axis of Kriti’ major project which has a total eligible cost of EUR 83 million and a total EU co-financing of EUR 71 million.

In the 2014-2020 period, the assistance to transport infrastructure in Greece will be mostly implemented under the ‘Infrastructures for Transport, Environment and Sustainable Development’ programme which has been recently submitted and is currently assessed by the Commission. The regional programme covering Kriti also contributes additional sums to transport infrastructure.

The Structural Fund regulations provide that the design, preparation, implementation, monitoring, audit and evaluation of co-funded interventions under operational programmes is the responsibility of national authorities, at the most appropriate territorial level and according to the institutional system of each Member State. Even more so, the Strategic Framework for Transport Policy is a document outlining the national strategy. Co-financed works should be in line with the strategy, which in itself is an ex-ante conditionality for the approval of the programme. However, not everything within such a strategy can or will be co-financed. Such a decision rests solely with the Greek authorities.

(1) VOAK.

Source: European Parliament