The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas spoke at the hearing before the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, answering questions from MEPs – members of the Commission.

According to a statement, a question by SYRIZA MEP Elena Kountoura, “for the safety of the Greek railway network after the Tempe’s long accident”, Mr Tzitzikostas said:

“Mrs. Kountoura, once again, I will be clear and specific:

As I clearly committed, during my hearing in the European Parliament, in November, the first days I took on my duties, I asked for and received full information, from the competent services of the European Commission on the issue of rail safety in Greece in Greece. .

And shortly thereafter, two weeks after taking over my duties as a commissioner, I started the process of breach of European legislation by Greece, in which I remind you, there is an explicit reference to the important, systemic and timeless deficiencies in the Greek railway sector. “

‘As you know,’ continued the Commissioner, “Greece has developed an action plan to address the issues needed to enhance the safety of the railway. We closely monitor the implementation of this plan and constantly evaluate it to ensure its implementation within the agreed timetable.

At the same time, as a European Commission we are ready to provide all possible technical support in Greece to make the railway, modern, safe and reliable.

So I repeat, as I have said from the first moment, security is my non -negotiable priority“

The MEP stressed that “two years after the tragic railway accident in Tempe, the Greek rail network continues to face systemic deficiencies and severe gaps in security” and “referring to the start of two months ago by the Commissioner of the Procedure for violating Greece. In the Greek Government for the breach of European legislation,- as 5 European regulations are violated and 2 European directives- and since the deadline for the response has elapsed, Elena Kountoura has asked Apostolos Tzitzikostas to be positioned if she believes that today the Greek railway is safe for European citizens and what to do so to ensure complete compliance with European Railway Security Legislation. “