Meetings at European Commission at Brussels had today Minister of State, responsible for infrastructure and transport matters, Giorgos Gerapetritison the subject of accident at Tempe and its investigation cooperation between Greece and the Commission in the subjects of railways.

G. Gerapetritis met with the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Eliza Ferreira, with the Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean, and with the Director of the Office of the President of the Commission, Bjorn Seibert. All three officials of the Commission expressed to Mr. Gerapetritis their condolences for the tragic accident in Tempi and the Commission’s desire to help the Greek authorities in the investigation of the accident, but mainly in forming a railway framework that will be safer, more rational and more attractive to citizens.

“We start from a basic initial position that is common between Greece and the Commission, that it is our will to move towards a better, more expanded, more popular railway”, said Mr. Gerapetritis in a briefing to the Greek correspondents in Brussels. According to him, it was agreed that Greece will have technical assistance from the European Commission in the development of capabilities and structural organization of the railways. Also, the Greek authorities will be in constant cooperation with the Commission, both in the investigation of the accident and in the monitoring of the projects for the railways.

In particular, Mr. Gerapetritis mentioned that the Greek authorities will be in constant cooperation with the Commission to monitor the electronic upgrade of railway safety (ERTMS) projects, which includes the parts of signaling and remote control. The contracts should be completed by the end of September 2023 on the main axis Athens-Thessaloniki, emphasized Mr. Gerapetritis, who expressed the hope that the automatic braking systems (ETCS) will also be completed by then.

In addition, there will be cooperation with the European Commission on issues of personnel specialized for the railways, as well as on the staffing of the air and railway accident investigation organization.

Regarding the issue of the investigation of the accident in Tempe, the Greek side has asked the Commission to indicate experts from abroad who could somehow be involved in an independent investigation. However, it is known from other cases abroad that this independent investigation by experts requires several months. In any case, Mr. Gerapetritis stated that Greece intends to formally request both the European Railway Agency (ERA) and the Commission to be actively involved in the investigation of the accident.

Next week, representatives of technical levels of the European Commission will arrive in Athens.