ΑTHENS – Greece’s New Democracy government reportedly is hoping to get the European Commissioner for Transport position – Greek Member of the European Parliament Eliza Vozemberg heads the transport committee there – but could find some resistance.

That’s because Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ nominee for a commission spot, Central Macedonia Governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas could – if taking over transport – be faced with blistering questions over a deadly 2023 train crash in Tempi, Greece.

The head-on collision killed 57 people and led to then transport minister Kostas Karamanlis quit after admitting he hadn’t fully implemented European Union funded safety projects, but escaped being charged despite what critics said was a whitewash.

In a review, EURACTIV noted that a largely secret investigation hasn’t led to any prosecutions yet despite a handful of railway executives and a stationmaster being charged, but no one in government.

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/eu-transport-portfolio-for-greece-candidate-commissioner-to-face-hot-potatoes/

“The national court case over those responsible behind the Tempi accident has proceeded slowly, with the victim’s parents and the Greek opposition claiming the ruling government is attempting to cover up potential political responsibilities,” the report said.

European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO) chief Laura Kövesi had – before the accident – begun an  an investigation into a contract signed in 2014 for the reconstruction and upgrade of the signaling system and remote control on Greek trains.

Kövesi said Greek authorities were posing obstacles in “finding the truth and applying justice” and sent a letter to the EU Commission stating that the provision in Greece’s constitution that provides ministers with immunity should change, but it wasn’t.

The European Commission also said it noted that Greece lacked a permanent and independent railway accident investigation body in Greece since 2019 that violated European Union law but nothing was done about it.

“The unanswered questions about the Tempi accident and Greece’s poor train infrastructure may put Tzitzikostas in a politically uncomfortable position,” the report said, as he also is aligned closely with Mitsotakis.

“Some may raise doubts over whether Greece can handle transport at the EU level as, when it comes to trains, the country did not do its homework despite having received EU funding to modernize its railways,” it added.

Maria Karystianou, who is a representative of the parents of the crash victims – noting New Democracy’s Vozemberg position, said that, “After the deadliest train accident in Europe (…)  those who are guilty take over the relevant transport portfolio.”