The European Union has provided almost 800 million euros in aid to the Greek railways, according to figures detailed by a commission spokesman. The first funds for the installation of the infamous ERTMS system in Greece were allocated back in 2000. The Representative maintains that Union funding has been provided on an ongoing basis and emphatically emphasizes that, despite all efforts to adapt the country to European law, “the railway infrastructure network in Greece continues to be owned and operated entirely by state-owned companies”.

“There is constant support from the EU. with the funding of new investments, however, there is still a need to improve the Greek railway lines,” the representative notes. “In the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, the Greek government has identified the need to improve infrastructure and its management as a priority as it has recognized the challenges associated with rail project management and has agreed to a series of reforms for the coming years. “, he adds.

From 2014 to date, the European Union has allocated 697.3 million euros for the Greek railway. In addition, from 2000 to date, a further €87.8 million has been allocated in co-financing with Greece. Another 130 million euros from the Recovery Fund and 50 million euros from the public investment program will follow.

“The railway infrastructure network in Greece is still owned and operated entirely by state-owned companies,” he points out pointedly.

European funds for Greek Railways come from three main sources: the Cohesion Policy Package, the European Connection Mechanism, and the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. The distribution of amounts, according to the data provided by the representative of the Commission “K”, is as follows:

• The EU Cohesion Policy Package has been co-financing the renewal and modernization of Greece’s main railway axis, namely Patras – Athens – Thessaloniki – Promachona (PATHE-P), including the ERTMS signaling and communication system, since 2000. In the program periods 2000-2006 and 2007- In 2013, about 52.3 million euros (including the national contribution) were invested in railway lines and communication systems. For the program period 2014-2020 an additional 57.3 million euros was allocated – by the end of 2022, a compensation amount of 30.5 million euros had been claimed to the Commission.

• The Hellenic Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRF) stipulates that the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will be fully installed on the PATHE-P network by the end of 2023 and this commitment will be addressed as part of the 5th payment request. As part of the plan’s second payment request, the Greek government passed legislation in October to provide additional resources for OSE (infrastructure owner) and ERGOSE (construction manager) and to improve the focus and coordination of the two companies by clarifying their respective responsibilities and improving their management. In the Greek budget in December, an additional 50 million euros were allocated for the maintenance of the railway from the public investment budget. An additional 130 million euros from RRF funds will be allocated to three public-private partnership projects to modernize the existing railway infrastructure, with additional funds to finance long-term projects coming from other EU funds.

• CEF (Connecting Europe) has supported 16 railway projects in Greece with total EU funding of €697.3 million. (CEF 1 and CEF 2 together) since 2014. Nearly 90% of CEF funding for Greece has been allocated to railway projects. Most projects and funds were allocated for the modernization and construction of railways. Railway Interoperability Funding, or ERTMS, is around €2 million (between 2014 and 2020). Notably, the Platy-Domokos section is part of the East/East-Mediterranean Corridor within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), connecting large parts of Central Europe with ports on the North, Baltic, Black and Mediterranean.