IP/97/750

Brussels, 11 August 1997

Greece: ECU 130 million from the Cohesion Fund to support projects in the fields of the environment and transport infrastructure

The Commission has approved assistance to from the Cohesion Fund worth ECU 56 million to support projects in the field of the environment and ECU 74 million for projects in the field of transport infrastructure. The environmental projects have a total eligible volume of ECU 67.6 million, part- financed at either 80% or 85% by the Cohesion Fund, i.e. ECU 55.6 million. Specifically, the projects approved involve: water supply, waste-water removal and a biological treatment plant at Ptolemaida, water supply and external aqueduct at Yannitsa, overhaul of solid-waste disposal at Ano Liossia, coastal protection works along the low coastline of Salonika, Khalastra and Kalochorio,·increased capacity for the aqueduct at Mornos and water supply for the city of . The projects approved in the field of transport are to receive ECU 74 million from the Cohesion Fund, i.e. 85% of eligible total volume, estimated at ECU 87.1 million, and consist of: ring road at and various section of the Via Egnatia.

The projects in detail.

• Water supply, waste-water removal and biological treatment plant at Ptolemaida

This project in Macedonia is designed to complete the sewage system of the city (pop. approx. 40.000) and install a tertiary treatment phase at the sewage treatment plant. The project also comprises some 115 000 metres of water- supply piping and two pumping stations.

The total eligible volume of the project is ECU 7.4 million and the aid rate from the Cohesion Fund is 80%, which represents a subsidy of ECU 6 million.

• Water-supply network and external aqueduct at Yannitsa

This project in central Macedonia is designed to improve the quality of the water and the quantity of drinking water available as well as management of the system. These works, planned for completion by the end of 1999, have a total eligible volume of ECU 2.7 million and will receive aid of 80% from the Cohesion Fund, i.e. ECU 2.2 million. • Overhaul of solid-waste disposal at Ano Liossia

This project in Attika is designed to overhaul the sold-waste dump at Ano Liossia, a part of which is still operational. It aims in particular to reduce or halt the adverse effects on the environment, to enhance the natural environment of the site and to use it for other uses.

The total eligible volume of the project is ECU 16.7 million and the aid from the Cohesion Fund is ECU 13.3 million (80%).

• Coastal protection works along the low coastline of Salonika, Khalastra and Kalochorio

The project is to provide protection for these low-lying areas by means of dykes faced with stones weighing between between 0.5 kg and 1 100 kg. The aim is to reinforce the existing dyke against erosion caused by the sea and to protect the village of Kalochorio and other low-lying coastal areas of this region.

The works are to be completed by the end of 1998. The total eligible volume of the project is ECU 3.3 million and the aid from the Cohesion Fund is ECU 2.6 million (80%).

• Increase in the capacity of the Mornos aqueduct

The project covers a 28 km stretch from the Kitheronas tunnel to the Mandra treatment plant and another branch section up to the Menidi treatment plant.

The aim of the project is to increase the reliability of water supply to . The project will supply the treatment plants at lower cost for transporting the water. The aid from the Cohesion Fund is ECU 26.5 million, i.e. 85% of the total eligible volume.

• Water supply to the city of Ioannina

This project in Epiros involves the construction of reservoirs and the replacement of piping in order to improve the management of drinking-water supplies to a population of 70 000 in the city of Ioannina. This is a growing city on the border with Albania.

The project has a total eligible volume of ECU 6.2 million and will receive a subsidy of ECU 5 million (80%) from the Cohesion Fund.

- 2 - The projects approved by the Commission in the field of transport are:

• Ring road at Patras

This project covers a section 7.5 km long as part of the north-south motorway link (PATHE) and is planned to come into use in 1999.

The total eligible volume of the project is ECU 15.6 million and the aid from the Cohesion Fund is ECU 13.3 million (80%).

• Via Egnatia - Ladohori to Lykopodi section

A section of the Egnatia motorway 7 km long, works to be completed by the end of 1999 to come into use in 2000.

This project, with a total eligible volume of ECU 12 million, will receive a subsidy of ECU 10.2 million (85%) from the Cohesion Fund.

• Via Egnatia - Ag. Nikolaos to Koumaria section

A section of the Egnatia motorway 7 km long, works to be completed by the end of 1998 to come into use in 1999.

This project, with a total eligible volume of ECU 19.9 million, will receive a subsidy of ECU 16.9 million (85%) from the Cohesion Fund.

• Via Egnatia - Koumaria to Ag. Anastasia section

A section of the Egnatia motorway 5 km long, works to be completed by the end of 1998 to come into use in 1999.

This project has a total eligible volume of ECU 14 million and will receive a subsidy of ECU 11.9 million (85%) from the Cohesion Fund.

• Via Egnatia - Kavala Ring and section between MR 4+937 and MR 9+400

A section of the Egnatia motorway 4.2 km long, including the Palio interchange. Works to be completed by the end of 1999 to come into use in 2000.

This project has a total eligible volume of ECU 12.7 million and will receive a subsidy of ECU 10.8 million (85%) from the Cohesion Fund.

- 3 - • Via Egnatia - Kavala Ring to Ag. Sillas interchange and viaduct at MR 1+100

The Ag. Sillas interchange forms part of the Kavala ring on the Egnatia motorway. The works are to be completed by the end of 1997 to come into use in 1998.

This project has a total eligible volume of ECU 4.5 million and will receive a subsidy of ECU 3.8 million (85%) from the Cohesion Fund.

• Via Egnatia - Kavala Ring: construction of six viaducts

The Kavala ring is located on the Egnatia motorway. The works included in this project are to be completed by the end of 1999 to come into use in 2000.

This project has a total eligible volume of ECU 8.4 million and will receive a subsidy of ECU 7.1 million (85%) from the Cohesion Fund.

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