Powers of independent Port Regulatory Authority curtailed
22.2.2021
Question for written answer E-001036/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Elena Kountoura (The Left), Dimitrios Papadimoulis (The Left)
Under Law 4770/2021,[1] the Greek Government has unexpectedly curtailed the powers of the independent Port Regulatory Authority (PRA) in a number of areas, such as the investigation of complaints and internal appeals and the imposition of sanctions under Regulation (EU) 2017/352[2] (hereinafter the ‘Regulation’), as well as its powers of supervision and implementation in respect of port concessions at Piraeus and Thessaloniki. Under the terms of the Financial Facility Agreement (FFA),[3] however, the Greek Government is not entitled to make such substantial inroads into its formally established areas of competence.
The option of renewing all contracts for the collection and management of waste from vessels and cargo residues is also introduced[4] retroactively in breach of the Regulation, as requested[5] also by the members of the Hellenic Ports Association, who are now calling on the Ministry for Shipping to overturn decisions by their supervisory authority, the PRA.
In view of this:
Can the Commission say whether it has been apprised of the substantial curtailment of the powers of the PRA, failure to implement in full the provisions of the FFA and the statutory restriction of the services provided for under the EU Regulation in Greece?
Does this law guarantee an impartial investigation into alleged infringements of the terms of PRA-administered concessions, given that investigatory and supervisory powers are now concentrated in the hands of a single contractual party, the Ministry for Shipping, rather than being entrusted to an independent third party?
Will the Commission take immediate action to ensure full compliance with the Regulation and impartial inquiries into alleged infringements thereof?