Significant safety risks in the design of the railway line between Nea Karvali and Toxotes

Question for written answer E-004204/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikolas Farantouris (The Left), Elena Kountoura (The Left), Yannis Maniatis (S&D), Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D), Nikos Papandreou (S&D)

Almost three years after the tragic railway accident at Tempi, and despite the infringement proceedings launched by the Commission against Greece for systemic deficiencies in railway safety[1], the design of the new railway line between Nea Karvali and Toxotes has raised significant concerns among local communities and citizens' organisations[2]. The Council of State[3] held that the decision approving environmental conditions (DAEC) for the railway project did not take into account the high risk of serious accidents and/or disasters resulting from the project's proximity to a natural gas pipeline and pre-existing industrial installations for the production of highly hazardous substances such as ammonia, acidic and nitrogen fertilisers, which fall within the scope of the Seveso III Directive on the control of major-accident hazards[4]. The competent ministry temporarily suspended the relevant DAEC until the highlighted safety issues have been investigated and appropriate specific measures to eliminate the identified risks are incorporated into that decision[5].

Given that the implementation of this project is being financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), will the Commission say:

• 1.Does it consider that the current design of the project entails safety issues and the risk of a major accident?
• 2.How will it address the risks identified in relation to the existing project design?
• 3.How will it ensure that the requirements of European law are fully respected in the context of the project's implementation?

Submitted: 25.10.2025

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_6006
• [2] https://www.dimokratia.gr/politiki/598437/chimiki-vomva-kai-kindynos-gia-nea-tempi-stin-kavala/
• [3] https://www.adjustice.gr/webcenter/faces/wcnav_externalId/search-caselaws?bltId=34F87BDCB77D2048AE38230B377C3112&_afrLoop=23307861367611066#!%40%40%3F_afrLoop%3D23307861367611066%26bltId%3D34F87BDCB77D2048AE38230B377C3112%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D9ijdho5ne_104
• [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32012L0018
• [5] https://kavalawebnews.gr/eidiseis/epikairotita/prota-i-asfaleia-ton-politon-kai-meta-tha-sfyrixei-to-treno/