This week, the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) delivered a study visit in Athens for a delegation from the Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA), focusing on road transport policy, financing, and delivery of major infrastructure projects in Greece.
The Bulgarian delegation, composed of senior managers and experts involved in the implementation of the Operational Programme “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” 2021-2027, aimed to gain practical insights into the Greek framework for road infrastructure planning, financing, environmental permitting, procurement and operation, as well as to exchange good practices relevant to EU-funded transport projects.
Objectives of the study visit
The study visit was designed to:
- Understand the Greek institutional and financial framework for the delivery of road infrastructure
- Exchange good practices on road transport policies and strategies
- Gain an overview of flagship road projects funded by EU funds, including achievements and implementation challenges
- Facilitate dialogue with public authorities, infrastructure operators, construction companies, engineering consultancies, financial institutions and academia.
Programme highlights
During the five-day programme, participants met with key Greek stakeholders involved in road infrastructure development, including:
- The Managing Authority of the Transport Programme and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, presenting national strategies, project selection, financing models, public procurement, tolling and phasing of road projects
- The Ministry of Environment and Energy, showcasing best practices in environmental permitting for road projects
- JASPERS (a partnership funded by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank), discussing EU support to road transport investments, climate resilience, environmental compliance and sustainability integration
- Major industry players such as METKA, Nea Attiki Odos, GeoTerra and ADTOMEGA, offering practical perspectives on road construction, operation, maintenance, design and environmental approvals
- The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), providing insight into cutting-edge research in traffic engineering, pavement engineering, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and transport systems planning
The visit also included a technical tour of the Attiki Odos Traffic Control Centre, illustrating the operational and technological aspects of one of Greece’s most significant urban motorway concessions.
The delegation consisted of experts and department heads from RIA working on European transport connectivity projects, investment procedures, risk analysis, expropriation and road engineering. The programme was coordinated by EIPA’s expert Marco Lopriore.
The study visit strengthened institutional cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece, enhanced participants’ understanding of EU-funded road infrastructure delivery, and provided transferable lessons relevant to the effective implementation of large-scale transport projects across Europe.
