Financial aid for Greek transport operators following the Russian embargo

9.9.2014

Question for written answer P-006704-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Elissavet Vozemberg (PPE)

The Russian embargo on imports from Europe has created enormous problems for EU exporters (given that Russia is the EU's second largest trading partner), especially in Member States with a substantial share of the Russian market, which absorbs around 40% of Greek agricultural exports for example. In addition to agriculture, other sectors including the transport sector have been badly hit, particularly in Greece, which has around 300 lorries regularly transporting goods to Russia. Greek transport operators accordingly expect to sustain annual losses of around EUR 10 million. In addition, transport operations to Ukraine have been halved in the wake of recent events.

Following similar problems in the past arising from the embargo on former Yugoslavia, the EU adopted legislation (Regulation (EEC) No 525/1992) approving aid for Greek transport operators to offset the additional distances they were required to cover as a result. In view of this, will the Commission now extend financial aid to transport operators to offset losses caused by the Russian embargo and enable them to ride out the current crisis?