Northern Road Axis in Crete

Subject: Northern Road Axis in Crete

The projected Northern Road Axis in Crete, which is of major significance for the lives of the island’s inhabitants and local development and is expected to cost around EUR 1.1 million, appears to be getting ahead of itself, given that not even a strategic feasibility study has been carried out to justify the need for the project, this being a basic condition for EU funding. A number of questions remain to be resolved, such as funding issues, the route to be followed by the new road and environmental impact findings. It will doubtless prove impossible to establish a reliable timetable for implementation of the works, given the lack of data regarding the route and compulsory purchase issues.

The Commission itself has been facilitating the efforts of the Greek authorities to promote the construction of the remaining Northern Axis Road sections through the European Investment Project Portal (EIPP), additional funding of around EUR 125 million for eligible expenditure over the 2014- 2020 programming period to be once again be met in part by the European Regional Development Fund.

In view of this:

– Have funding applications been submitted for transport infrastructure projects on the Northern Road Axis in Crete in response to calls for proposals for projects to date under the Connecting Europe Facility?

– Is there is any risk of projected works on sections currently included in the 2007-2013 NSRF being removed?

Answer given by Ms Bulc on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2018)

No funding application has been received under the Connecting Europe Facility calls for proposals since 2014 for the Northern Road Axis in Crete.

As provided by Article 89 §1 of Regulation 1083/2006, Greece submitted all closure documents for the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 programmes within the regulatory deadline of 31 March 2017.

According to the Final implementation report, the project ‘Northern Road Axis in Crete’ is completed, and as such there is no risk the project is excluded from the National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013.

The development, in the last twenty years, of the Northern Road Axis in Crete has followed a piecemeal approach which has not allowed completing the whole axis.

In the 2014-2020 programming period, an overall feasibility analysis and design is required as this is the islands' backbone network.

Further, priority should be given to mature infrastructure projects which can be implemented within the deadlines set for the programmes of this programming period.