Road tolls charged on the 'Attic Highway' in Athens

3.12.2003

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3817/03
by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)
to the Commission

On 30 November 2003 the Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis, inaugurated (at a party political event) the penultimate stretch of the 'Attic Highway' (at least that was what was announced). This Highway has been brought into service in stretches over the last year and a half, and road tolls have been rising continuously for private vehicles, reaching EUR 2 on 1 December 2003. It has now been announced that they will be increased to EUR 2.8 or more after the Olympic Games.

 

The Greek press has very accurately described the 'Attic Highway' as 'the most expensive road in Europe', since no other road is so expensive to use. It should also be noted that the cost is not geared to the number of kilometres covered: thus a user who covers 40 kilometres along the 'Attic Highway' pays exactly the same amount as another user who covers only three kilometres.

 

How does the Commission view the size of the road tolls charged and the non-differentiation of costs for users? Is the above arrangement in line with the provisions of Community legislation? Who collects the road tolls charged on the 'Attic Highway'? What was the original budget of the Highway and what is the final cost? What is the overall extent of the Community financial contribution (loans, resources from the third Community Support Framework, etc.) in realising the project?

OJ C 84 E, 03/04/2004