by Sarantis Michalopoulos
An email sent to the European Commission and Parliament chiefs is expected to stir the waters ahead of the upcoming hearing of Greece’s commissioner candidate for the transport portfolio, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
The email seen by Euractiv was sent to von der Leyen, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Justice EU Commissioner Didier Reynders.
It was sent by Maria Karystianou, the representative of the parents of victims of the Tempi accident – the deadliest train crash in Europe.
What has happened
In 2023, 57 people – mainly youngsters – were killed in a train crash in Tempi (central Greece). Since then, the issue has been in the national spotlight and the court case to determine those responsible for the accident is proceeding slowly.
The victims’ relatives as well as the opposition parties claim that the government is trying to cover up the case. Meanwhile, the centre-right government (EPP) insists there are no political responsibilities and says it’s up to the justice system to investigate the matter.
However, the issue has also attracted the attention of Brussels.
EU Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi had already launched—before the accident—an investigation into an EU-funded “717 contract” signed in 2014 for the reconstruction and upgrade of the signalling system and remote control on Greek trains.
Experts have suggested that the accident could have been avoided if these systems had been in place.
Kovesi has also publicly revealed that Greek authorities have hindered her investigation. She has also sent a letter to the EU Commission asking for a provision in the Greek constitution providing politicians immunity from charges.
The issue re-emerged after the ruling New Democracy asked for and took the transport portfolio in the next EU executive.
Euractiv reported about Athens’ request in August, saying candidate Tzitzikostas—currently governor of the Greek region of Central Macedonia—would have a hard time at his hearing in the EU House because of the train crash, although he had no involvement.
The email
In her email, Karystianou, a paediatrician who has also spoken two times in Parliament – calls on EU leaders to think twice about the candidate proposed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“How is it possible for the EU to assign and trust such critical posts of great responsibility for the entire European transport safety and development to politicians linked with a government which has completely failed in this safety sector within their country?” Karystianou asked.
“The relatives of the 57 victims of that horrible crime actively search to unveil the truth among the endless lies that have been said by the authorities […] Greece has long faced huge problems in its railway sector, and persistent safety violations and underinvestment contributing to repeated incidents. The tragic incident in Tempi is the most devastating result of these long-standing problems”, she added.
Karystianou – who has collected more than 1.5 million signatures in a request to seek justice about the accident - also referred to the “717 contract” saying the failure to complete this critical infrastructure project was crucial to the degradation of railway safety.
“Of note, last week, a tree entered the cabin of a train with hundreds of travellers, and two trains stopped at the last minute once they realised that they were heading in opposite directions on a single line”, she said.
She noted that Kovesi’s investigation highlights the “deep-rooted issues” within Greece’s transport infrastructure that put people’s lives at risk.
“With the ongoing legal case, the current investigation into Contract 717, and the unresolved issues regarding the railway safety, I believe that assignment of the transport responsibilities could severely undermine public confidence in European governance and transport infrastructure”, the email reads.
Karystianou also lashed out against the Greek prime minister.
“After the incident, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that ‘everything’ showed that the incident was caused by ‘human error’ even before any investigation had even started […] I also remind that official authorities immediately after the incident tried to cover up and make disappear all evidence from the place of the incident: This includes chemical evidence and human remains”.
Greece leads transport in EU Parliament too
Karystianou also mentioned that the ruling New Democracy party (EPP) has also elected MEP Eliza Vozemberg, chairwoman of the EU Parliament’s transport committee (TRAN).
The latter is supposed to examine the Greek candidate commissioner.
According to Karystianou, this dual representation raises concerns about “potential conflicts of interest and whether the necessary objectivity and independence can be maintained”.
Euractiv was informed that the EU Parliament’s Juri committee, which currently examines candidate commissioners’ potential conflicts of interest, cannot issue an opinion on dual representation because it focuses on the financial aspect of potential conflicts of interest.
However, sources from the EU left group told Euractiv they will raise the issue politically within the EU House.
*first published in: Euractiv.com
By: N. Peter Kramer
