The Deputy Minister answered a question if a European Public Prosecutor’s Office was investigated
“We have not received any announcement or official announcement from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office,” the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance said Nikos Papathanassis, Responding earlier today to a timely question by New Left President Alexis Haritsis on “What is happening with the € 2.5 billion resources of the recovery and resilience fund in just 10 IT and Technology Companies?”
Mr Haritsis accused the government that with its responsibility all over Europe he is discussing that in Greece European resources were divided, provoking the sharp reaction of the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance. “Look, I want to re -submit to the House the 203 projects, where 2/3 have received more than one bids. Only 1/3 have an offer and even on 1/3 offers, 50% are with more than one companies, “said Papathanassis, and commented that” during Mr Haritsi’s term, the 13 projects that ran digitally had only one offer, of which 50% had only one company. “
Earlier, the President of the New Left, in his timely question, had called on the government to reply whether the European Public Prosecutor’s Office was investigated in more than 600 projects with a total budget of 2.5 billion euros assigned to 10 companies in the IT and technology industry and what actions he has taken. He also asked to be informed what is the result of the unexpected audits of the Competition Commission in the IT and Technology and Related Services for a possible horizontal partnership of public bidrigging. Alexis Haritsis said the case began in April 2024, when a publication by the European journalistic organization “Politico.eu” revealed that research was conducted by European and national authorities on the assignment of just 10 large number of projects (more than 600) in the field of technology, with a total budget of € 2.5 billion. Recovery and durability. The report said that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office had confirmed that a investigation procedure was launched following a complaint by a Greek company to the European Commission, which was forwarded to the European Fraud of Fraud (OLAF).
“You have both been Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister, Mr. Haritsis, at a time when you brought Law 4412 and therefore know the procedures. Of course, this law was amended 14 times later, to come to improve its operation, even in the direct assignments that you have essentially announced in retrospect, “the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance said to emphasize that the government respected the government. In this climate, Mr. Papathanassis said: “No control process has come to our knowledge. Therefore, because you are referring to procedures, please very much if you know the results of the process, since we cannot know them, my question is rhetoric, I know that I should not ask you, but if you know you, since you realize the functioning of justice, please. So we tell you that we have not received any control announcement or official announcement. “
In relation to the question posed by Mr Haritsis for the Competition Committee, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance submitted a reply from the Commission, which was received by the Ministry, according to which “such audits are carried out by businesses that can collect” Nor does it predict the results of the research. ” The same letter notes that the Competition Committee does not comment on cases under investigation in order to protect the confidentiality of investigations and potential subsequent judicial procedures. “So tell me, Mr. President, how do you know that there are decisions that I should today announce to you? How do you know this when we are not allowed to know the processes that the independent authorities are involved? “Nikos Papathanassis said.
The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance also recalled that the publication of the competitions in the EU newspaper, in KIMDIS, ESIDIS and the Information Society website is also a stage of the process. The whole process is the approval of the signing of the contract by the Court of Auditors. There are also controls of independent auditors who confirm the satisfactory performance of the TAA Mountains, while the TAA (EFSTA) Special Coordination Service in cooperation with the National Transparency Authority is considering complaints on management and implementation of projects funded by the TAA. EFSTA regularly submits reports to OLAF about any irregularities found.
“Are you a government of the country and you can’t confirm if there is an ongoing investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office?” Alexis Haritsis said, and commented: “And if there is no ongoing investigation, why have you not come out to deny Politico, why have you not been to the courts for slander?” At the same time, he cited an earlier written response by Mr Papathanassis to Parliament in May 2024, according to which no announcement of control or other information was not sent to the Special Coordination Office of the Ministry of Development until then. But Mr Haritsis noted, as soon as Mr Pierrakakis told the House yesterday that “yes there is an ongoing investigation and we even asked for it”. “I did not seek decisions but tell us if there is an ongoing research, when all of Greece, all of Europe are talking about disrupting European funds,” he noted.
“I submit you a Competition Committee document, to which we have forwarded your question. States that he conducted on the grounds of a large number of businesses. But no one can and can, we cannot know, because as I told you, it has not come, it has not received any control or official update of other types of the TAA Coordination Service. I told you twice. I tell you the third time, “said Nikos Papathanassis. “We have no knowledge or a question to us, and the questions are welcomed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and we will answer the questions, because if we accept the questions, we will answer,” the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance said.
“Is the renovation of 80 public hospitals and 156 health centers? Is it nonsense? I submit to the House all the TAA’s flagship projects, “the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance said, and called on Mr Haritsis to answer whether he considers the pre -contractual examination of mammography, test paps, colon examination and cardiovascular disease. If my home II program is nonsensical with which more than 9,000 people have been locked up to buy home and pay a lower installment than rent. If the safety projects for the safety of rail tunnels, smart school crossings, interactive tables are inappropriate.
“Well, look at I want to re -submit to the House the 203 projects, where 2/3 have received more than one offers. Only 1/3 have an offer and even on the offers of 1/3 50% are with more than one companies, “Papathanassis said, and commented that during Mr Haritsi’s tenure, the 13 projects that ran digitally had only one offer, of which 50% had only one company.
The President of the New Left referred to the government’s amendment to suspend asylum rights. “It is a downfall an amendment that suspects the right to international protection, the right to asylum, a right of inviolable and non -negotiable, in accordance with international law, the international conventions signed by our country and is bound by them,” said Alexis Haritsis. “Are you putting the country in a state of exception? Except for any concept of European acquis, violating the country itself? He told you, and yesterday and today, even Mr Venizelos. The Council of Human Rights Commissioner of Human Rights has already called for this amendment to be rejected, “the new left -wing president said, and accused the government of” putting the country out of the European framework “,” outside European and international legitimacy “.
“The times when you managed the migratory waves have passed irrevocably. Greece has borders and we will not allow Greece to become a vineyard, “the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance replied, adding:” We will continue what we did in Evros in order to preserve the border of the homeland. We do not change our policy, it is stable. Greece has borders, not only land but also marine. “