Commission will not let subsidies go to waste

The European Commission may ask for the return of 54.3 million euros in Regional Development Fund subsidies for the 72.4-million-euro waste separation plant in Ano Liosia, west of Athens, which has been shut after operating problems and an accident, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom told New Democracy party Euro-MP Antonis Trakatellis. “To date, the responsible authorities have not provided a satisfactory explanation for this situation. If necessary, the Commission will order the return of EU funds,” Trakatellis reported Wallstrom as saying. She also noted that the Commission in December 2002 activated the procedure for referring Greece to the European Court for non-compliance with community legislation on waste management and that “Greece has not yet submitted a national strategy for reducing biodegradable waste destined for sanitary landfills,” as required according to Directive 1999/31/EC.