EU prosecutor says Greece obstructing investigation into deadly train accident

EU Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi has said the Greek authorities are posing obstacles in her investigation over a train accident last year which killed 57 people, mainly youngsters.

On 28 February, a year after the deadly accident, Greeks took to the streets to protest against alleged attempts to cover up those responsible for the accident.

Read more: Thousands of Greeks paralyse Athens as rule of law takes centre stage

“We are blocked from finding the truth and applying justice. Because if you are forbidden from doing the investigations, you cannot find out the truth”, Kövesi told Greek TV Star in an interview.

One year ago, an intercity passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided at high speed with a cargo train outside the city of Larissa in central Greece, killing 57 people, mainly young students.

Amid remarkable delays in investigating the case, the victims’ relatives started a campaign collecting 1.3 million signatures for a resolution to hold politicians related to the accident responsible for abolishing their immunity.

After the accident, the Greek parliament set up an ad hoc committee to examine whether former transport minister Kostas Karamanlis, who resigned in the meantime, had criminal responsibilities.

Most lawmakers – coming from the ruling New Democracy party (EPP) – voted against setting up a preliminary investigation committee as they concluded that politicians had no criminal responsibilities.

Since then, the victims’ relatives, as well as opposition politicians, have been complaining that the investigation has progressed slowly, claiming that the government wants to sweep the case under the carpet.

Referring to the Greek ministers’ immunity, Kövesi said the provision in the constitution must change and added that she has made such a request sending a letter to the European Commission.

On 3 March 2023, Euractiv revealed that the EU prosecutor had already stepped in before the accident.

Particularly, the EU prosecutor was scrutinising a contract signed in 2014 concerned with the reconstruction and upgrade of the signalling system and the remote control of the Athens – Thessaloniki – Promachona railway.

The “717 contract” was never implemented, and the signalling and surveillance system is still not in place. Meanwhile, Greek railways are still being operated manually.

Also read: Greece, EU lost in Babel of train safety deals

“If the project had been finalised in time and properly, this [accident] would have never happened […] this trauma cannot be healed without justice”, Kövesi added.

Marking one year since the accident, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed to shed light on the case; however, the opposition accuses his ruling party (EPP) of doing everything to cover up for the then-transport minister Kostas Karamanlis.

Meanwhile, the case has also attracted the attention of the European Parliament, which, in several resolutions, has called on Greek justice and government to speed up the investigations.

Referring to the “717 contract”, Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld said last month, “I think we can see how corruption may literally kill”.

A report drafted by an expert hired by the victims’ relatives and seen by Euractiv suggests an area of about two acres was filled with gravel and concrete after the accident, going against traditional research protocol and meaning the site where the accident occurred was “contaminated”.

“This action makes it difficult for the research and, above all, the taking of samples that might help to clarify several of the research questions”, the document reads.

The report states that the relevant authorities put the materials there, although the purpose and exactly who gave the order remains to be determined.

(Sarantis Michalopoulos | Euractiv.com)