The Executive Director of the European Railway Agency (ERA), Josef Doppelbauer, and the Director of Land Transport of the European Commission’s DG Transport, Christian Schmidt, are leaving for Athens today.

The two men will meet with the relevant Greek authorities on technical support for the modernization and safety of Greek railways following a tragic accident in Tempe.

The visit of the Commission and ERA experts was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after a telephone conversation on the morning of March 6 with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

I discussed with PTH @kmitsotakis additional technical support to Greece to modernize and improve safety on the railways. Commission experts and @ERA_railways this week they are going to Athens. Railway safety is paramount.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 6, 2023

The schedule for holding expert meetings in Athens has not been determined, the representative of the commission clarifies.

On behalf of the Commission, during her visit to Athens, Elžbieta Lukanjuk, who is responsible for railway security issues in the office of the Transport Commissioner Adina Valean, will take part.

ERA reported that on 03.06.2023 the Hellenic Railway Safety Regulatory Authority (RAS) requested its assistance in regards to the RAS supervisory activities.

Regarding the investigation of the causes of the accident, the ERA states: “According to the Safety Directive (EU) 2016/798, the responsibility for investigating accidents belongs to the Member State (Article 20.1). Member States shall ensure that the investigating authority referred to in Article 22 carries out an investigation into any serious accident on the Union’s railway system. The purpose of the study is to improve railway safety and prevent accidents wherever possible.”