ATHENS – Eight years after Greece was supposed to have had an agreement between the state and its railway operator –  but still hasn’t – the European Commission said it would take the case to the European Union Court of Justice.

That was over a complaint that the country had failed to fulfill its obligations under the Single European Railway Directive that still hasn’t see a contract drawn up wit the railway infrastructure manager OSE, the Commission said.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_593

That’s required to contain essential provisions such as the amount of funds allocated to the infrastructure services as well as user-oriented performance targets (for example line speed, customer satisfaction or environmental protection).

The Commission opened an infringement procedure against Greece in December 2020 and sent a reasoned opinion in December 2021. Since Greece remains in breach of the directive, the Commission has now decided to refer the case to the EU’s top court to decide, its rulings sometimes ignored.

The Commission said the contract is important and must specify certain benchmarks and conditions, including a five-year financing framework for the building, upgrade and also maintenance of rail infrastructure.