In Plenary session is introduced today for discussion the draft law of Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for the “Restructuring of the railway sector and strengthening of regulatory transport bodies”.

The draft law is introduced for discussion by the Production and Trade Committee with the positive vote of the ND. On the contrary, the they voted against PASOK-KINAL, SYRIZA, KKE, New Left and Niki, while Hellenic Solution, Freedom Sailing and “Spartians” reserved their place in the Plenary today.

At the same time, they have been submitted to the draft law three ministerial amendments.

OR first has the provisions concerning the announcements made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during the budget debate, with the interventions for banksthe settings for the pharmaceutical expenditure of low pensioners and the hazard allowance of the Armed Forces and Security Forces officers.

At second amendment provisions have been added:

  • extending the deadlines of emergency measures for public passenger rail and road transport to ensure the continued provision of passenger transport until 31 December 2025.
  • extension of the MLA regarding vehicles of historical interest until 31 December 2025.
  • extension until March 31, 2025 for the installation of fuel storage tanks exclusively for the supply of buses in their accommodation or parking and maintenance areas.
  • extension until December 31 of the deadline for the Registers of production factors of public and private projects, studies, technical and other related scientific services.
  • extension until February 28 of the deadlines for completion of real estate investment for the granting of a Golden Visa.
  • extension of the exemption for the whole of 2025 from ENFIA and the suspension of compulsory acts for the fire victims of Attica.
  • extension of another six months of the suspension of construction works in the area of ​​Mount Ymittos and the Metropolitan Parks of Goudi, Ilision.
  • extension until March 31, 2025 for the consideration of out-of-court settlement requests and the issuance of minutes by the Committee for the Out-of-court Resolution of Tax Disputes.
  • extension of submission of declarations of sources and declarations of Financial Interests until February 28, 2025.
  • extension of the deadline until June 30, 2025 for responsibilities assigned to municipal employees.
  • extension for one more year of the deadline regarding space measurements of reception and identification services structures and their fencing.
  • Transfers of deadlines, effective dates and obligations concerning the National Network of Mental Health Services, the National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions, OKANA, KETHEA.
  • 12-month extension of the employment contracts of staff with a fixed-term private law employment relationship in the services of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum.
  • extension of up to 9 months from the expiry of the service and cleaning contracts that have been concluded with contractors from the Regional Offices of DYPA.
  • extending the validity of the contracts for the provision of security and cleaning services, which have been concluded to cover the needs of the buildings of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, which expire by the end of 2024, until the completion of the relevant tender procedures for the conclusion of new ones and in any case until on September 30, 2025.
  • extensions of deadlines concerning the readjustment of pensionable earnings of insurable earnings and the amounts of the insurance categories based on the annual change in the Consumer Price Index.
  • extension of time of stay in the service of doctors in the NHS branch.
  • The internship in the framework of the actions of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”, as well as an authorization provision with suspensions regarding the New Building Regulation, according to the decision of the Council of Ministers.

In third ministerial amendment provisions relating to amendments have been inserted:

  • of par. 3 of article 5 of Law 4710/2010 on the imposition of an environmental fee and the import ban on old, polluting used vehicles.
  • the amendment of par. 6 of article 5 of PD 82/2023 concerning the construction of the new port of Thira.
  • the suspension of the withdrawal age limit for passengers of public use TAXI and Special Lease vehicles based in areas that have been placed in a state of civil protection emergency (amendment of par. 5 of article 89 and par. 5 of article 92 of Law 4070/2012).
  • the creation of the Special Register of Engineers GAIOSE SA. Regulation of port infrastructure issues (amendment of article 19 of Law 2932/2001). Subsidy of debts of the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Companies to electricity providers.

The bill

The draft law in its first part has as its object the restructuring of the railway sector through the absorption of the subsidiary company ERGOSE SA from the parent company OSE SA and the transfer of responsibility for the management of railway rolling stock of GAIOSE SA to the company Sidirodi Ellados M.A.E.

Part B of the bill has provisions concerning the optimal functioning of the independent authorities of RAS, APA and the National Organization for the Investigation of Aviation, Railway Accidents and Transport Safety (EODASAM) that exercise responsibilities regarding transport safety.

Part C of the draft law includes a series of “other urgent provisions”, such as special arrangements for the immediate restoration of damages to the building at 4 Arkadiou Street in Ampelokipis from the terrorist act that occurred, for the staffing of emergency committees and processing teams by members of the TEE , as well as a provision regarding the electronic register of production factors, studies and techniques and other related services for public and private projects.

Part IV of the bill includes a series of provisions on extension of leases such as:

  • winter and summer theaters and cinemas until December 31, 2025 at the same rent.
  • Extension of leases until September 15, 2025 of properties housing courts.
  • The extension for 5 years of the high temperature geothermal field research and management rights contracts.
  • Arrangements and extensions concerning employees of RAAE, IDIKA, the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, the Controlled Accommodation Structure for asylum seekers of Pyrgos, the EAP, the Archaeological Work Personnel Register, for the head of the Athens Forensic Service, the terms of office of existing members of the Architecture Councils and Urban Planning Issues and Doubts.
  • A series of partial extensions of deadlines regarding procedures and issues concerning: building permits, installations of liquid and gaseous fuel stations and gas stations, technical infrastructure in Building Cooperatives, constructions in the Evros Delta, for final reports and demolition protocols, for a series of issues related to green energy sources, regarding deadlines for procedures concerning the context of the licensing process of content providers terrestrial digital free-to-air television broadcasting, the licensing of radio stations as well as extensions for the exemption of the ODA from submission of tax and insurance information and deductions from public and insurance funds.