Greece launches urgent audit into contracts at Tempi train disaster site

Authorities in Greece have launched an urgent administrative audit at the Thessaly Region, scrutinizing contracts and procedures tied to work performed after the devastating train crash in Tempi. The audit, stemming from a prosecutor's directive, delves into the administrative and financial dimensions of specific contract awards and funding allocated following the March 1, 2023, tragedy.

A three-member team from the Directorate for Fiscal Control of Public Administration (DΥΕΕ) of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance is conducting an on-site examination. This investigation is part of a broader inquiry based on a 2024 prosecutorial order, aiming to meticulously document all administrative and financial aspects of the post-disaster interventions.

Central to the audit is Sub-project 5, titled "Use of Telescopic Mobile Work Cranes at the OSE Site in Koulouri." This project was categorized as an urgent intervention following the train accident. The audit team has requested comprehensive documentation, including the full administrative file for funding and contract awards, relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, circulars, directives, and decisions made.

Details sought also cover the contractor selection process, the method for determining contract prices, and the timeline of operations. Specifically, the audit is examining the award of work to a private company that participated in the post-accident interventions. The goal is to thoroughly assess all administrative, financial, and procedural elements connected to the funding and awarding of these specific tasks. No conclusions have been reached yet, as the process is ongoing.