The responsibilities of the European Railway Organization for the state of the Greek railways were mentioned by MEP and Vice President of the Tran Commission Elena Kountoura In the debate on the Committee on the assumption of the duties of the new ERA Executive Director, Oana Gergkinoscu.
Elena Kountoura, addressing the new Executive Director, spoke of a systemic, timeless security deficit and the image of abandonment on the Greek railway, as well as the role of ERA in investigating the situation on the Greek railway, after a long -term accident.
He has criticized the timeless responsibilities of ERA, which makes recommendations that do not follow and implement, neither the Member States nor the Commission itself, while calling on the new executive director to redefine the added value of the organization’s operation to this new term.
In a series of questions, Elena Kountoura asked ERA to answer why he provides a five -year security certificate to the Greek railways when he has identified and lists his finding, after a serious security problems in Tempi.
Concerning European responsibilities, he reiterated that ERA failed to ensure both the compliance of national rules with the basic security requirements and the effective supervision of the Hellenic Railway Regulatory Authority, RAS.
Elena Kountoura insisted that ERA responds to whether traveling by train today in Greece are safe for European citizens, and if it plans to recall the single security certificates until Greece complies with European rail safety law.
The Executive Director of E’s executiveRA to Elena Kountoura
In her response, the ERA Executive Director referred to the process of violating the European Commission against Greece for the breach of European rail safety legislation and pledged that when it officially assumed its duties it would focus on its compliance with it.
Regarding the accountability and responsibilities of the Member States, he stressed that ERA would take on a more active role with Member States’ controls on rail safety and infrastructure and education levels.
He emphasized that in order to perform controls by ERA, additional resources of reinforcement of the organization are required, and requested the support of MEPs in this direction.
Finally, he avoided answering the questions posed by Tran Vice President Elena Kountoura about whether traine movements today to Greece are safe for European citizens, and if he intends to recall the single security certificates issued by ERA until Greece complies with Europe.
All Elena Kountoura’s intervention:
“Mrs. Gergkinomescu,
First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your choice in this important position and wish you every success in the work you are doing for implementing the three priorities you have set.
I will refer to a particularly serious issue that has stigmatized the European, and especially the Greek railway.
Two years ago, the tragic railway accident in Tempe happened in Greece, with 57 dead. Recently, the finding of the National Esamaam Accident Investigation Body showed a systemic and timeless security deficit and a picture of abandonment on the Greek railway, findings confirmed by ERA’s itself to DG Move in 2023.
In this sad context, let me express the view that Era is responsible for this situation over time. You make recommendations that do not follow and apply, neither the Member States nor the Commission itself. As a result, in your term of office, to redefine the added value of the functioning of the body.
In Greece, according to the finding of EPANAAM, RAS has failed to guarantee the safety of the railways, not identifying critical weaknesses in security management systems. And ERA has failed to ensure the compliance of national rules with basic security requirements, but has also failed to ensure the effective supervision of RAS.
So I would like to ask you:
- Since the competent authorities in Greece cannot guarantee the safety of the railways, who can? Can you tell us if the Greek railway is safe today for European citizens?
- Also, in recent days we have been seeing an undefeated attack on the face of High ERA official Mr Bart and heard, in essence, to undermine the work and contribution of the organization to the findings and safety of the railway. Does ERA intend to proceed with an official response to what EPASAM is charged?
- Thirdly, how is it justified by ERA a single security certificate of security certificate, when its own finding such serious security problems are listed in its itself? How can ERA give single security certificates under conditions? Is there any security under conditions? Do you actually carry out substantial control as to whether these security conditions are met? In the meantime, trains are also circulating in the case of safety conditions?
- Do you intend to revoke the Single Security Certificates until the full compliance of railway and Greece with European rail safety law is ensured?