” Throughout time, the OSE strictly observes the procedure, in compliance with the above legal framework, by sending the prescribed applications and receiving the relevant Incomplete Logging Approvals as well as the Administrative Decisions with terms and conditions of cutting, from the Forestry Services”.

This is stated by the President of the OSE, Mr. Giannos Grammatidis, in his clarifications regarding the institutional framework and the actions of the OSE for the cutting of trees and the cleaning of areas along the railway network.

Specifically, as stated in a relevant announcement of the OSE, following recent reports in the Mass Media, the Management of the Organization proceeds with the following clarifications in order to properly inform the public and prevent the reproduction of information that is inaccurate:

A. Regarding whether permits to the OSE are required for cutting trees:

It was reported in the previous days in some media that “There was never a request from the OSE for clearing vegetation and cutting trees”.

Relatedly, in a provision of Law 998/79 on the “protection of forests and forest lands” and in particular in article 24 it is provided that: “1. The railway services must regularly ensure the cleanliness of the zone within forests or forest areas, through which railway trains pass, and the timely cutting and harvesting of the trees, bushes, bushes, dry grasses, etc. growing or found within it. It is pointed out, however, in the same article that the railway services must “absolutely comply with the instructions of the forestry service”.

It is also recalled that YA 12030/F.109.1/1999 (Government Gazette B’ 713/1999) stipulates that “b. The OSE. implements a program of clearing the vegetation and planting relatively non-flammable forestry species on the lands along and at a reasonable distance on either side of the railway axis in cooperation with the Regional Services of the Forestry Service.

From the wording of these two legislative provisions, it is clear that the OSE’s prior consultation with the local Forestry Service is required, which can only be done in writing, following a relevant request from the Organization.

The following are also noted in these decisions: 1. That the decision “takes the place of a logging permit” and 2. That “in case of non-compliance with the present conditions, the agency will revoke the approval decision and the provisions of the Forestry Legislation will be applied as they apply ( lawsuit, confiscation, administrative fine, violation of IHL)”.

All of the above refer to forests and woodlands. However, there are also areas near railway lines that are within approved landscape plans where dense vegetation and trees are observed. The process of cutting these trees again requires the issuance of a permit from the relevant urban planning authorities in accordance with article 40 par. 2 of Law 1337/1983. Fully compliant, the OSE systematically requests the issuance of such permits from the relevant Town Planning Authorities, which in response issue the relevant decisions.

In particular, however, in relation to the collision of a train with a tree trunk in Sfendali, the following should be highlighted:

(a) that it is not always possible to detect risks from natural phenomena (e.g. falling tree trunks), especially in inaccessible areas such as that of Sfendalis, and (b) that despite this, OSE has an ongoing contract with “Railway Works ATE » for the year 2024 for the cutting of those trees in the wider area of ​​Sfendalis that are more dangerous due to a distance of less than 10 meters from the railway lines. Since it is not a matter of cutting thousands of trees, the contract is still in progress. Finally, because these trees are burned, the OSE did not need to request permission from the relevant forestry service.

B. The work carried out by the OSE every year to cut down trees that endanger the railway operation: Despite the long-term lack of resources, for the year 2023 alone the OSE awarded 12 contracts at critical points of the network with a total value of 685,966.37 Euros . For 2024, within the framework of a state grant of 45,000,000 Euros, it awarded 20 contracts with a total value of 1,157,838.29 Euros, while awards of two open international tenders for the weeding and cutting of trees near railway lines with a total value of 4,958,475 are pending. .03 Euro for the two years 2025-2026.

C. New extraordinary initiatives of the OSE to strengthen the project of weeding and tree cutting: As recently announced, the Organization is proceeding with the establishment of a new Department of Greenery & Environment whose object will be the planning, procedures and implementation of the cleaning projects of the native vegetation and the cutting of trees along the entire railway network of the country, as well as the reduction of the Organization’s environmental footprint.

Based on the above, the President of the OSE, Mr. Giannos Grammatidis, stated: “It is now clear that the cooperation of the OSE with the Forestry Services and the Urban Planning Services on this specific issue is required by law and this also explains my report that I would never risk OSE personnel ending up on the loose by sending them into the field without a Forest Service permit.

The Organization has planned and will already propose the institution of an independent and overriding right of the OSE to cut trees both within the expropriated railway corridors on both sides of the lines and outside them, i.e. also in areas regardless of public or private use or forest restrictions and always along the of its active, suspended and abolished network, for reasons of not obstructing public transport, safety of the traveling public, avoiding fires and pollution of the environment.

This is how the OSE Management understands the concept of serving the safety of rail transport and the public interest, with tangible projects, immediately implementable”.