The SYRIZA - Progressive Alliance Delegation at the European Parliament submitted an urgent question to the European Commission with a request for a written answer on the dismantlement of the antiquities at the Thessaloniki’s metro station “Venizelos”.
Archaeologists and reputable scientists are strongly in favor of the preservation of antiquities in situ and call on the Greek government not to proceed with the dismantlement of this monumental complex, which is an integral part of the history of the city and part of the World Cultural Heritage.
The process of dismantlement and reconstruction, as suggested today, will destroy antiquities’ integrity and authenticity especially given the absence, in the current proposal, of any detailed reference on how they will be transferred back. In addition, many issues that may arise during the dismantlement process remain unclear.
The preservation in situ of the above-mentioned archaeological site is a precondition for its effective inclusion in the World Heritage List, as the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972) explicitly excludes from the List, antiquities which have been dismantled and reconstructed later on.
Specifically, SYRIZA - PA Group, bearing in mind the calls of the scientific world globally, European and international organizations and civil society, is asking the EU Commission:
• How does the Commission intend to act for the preservation in situ of the above-mentioned outstanding archaeological site, while ensuring the necessary progress of transport infrastructure?
• Does the Commission confirm that the EU deadline for the completion and functioning of the project is February 2025? Given the fact that the project has been virtually stagnant during the last two years, would the Commission consider an extension of the deadline?
You can find the question in full below:
Priority question for written answer
P-003538/2021 to the Commission Rule 138
Alexis Georgoulis (The Left), Dimitrios Papadimoulis (The Left), Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left), Petros Kokkalis (The Left), Stelios Kouloglou (The Left), Elena Kountoura (The Left)
Subject: Protecting Heritage and Promoting Infrastructure in Thessaloniki’s Metro Station “Venizelos”
The archaeological site revealed during the construction of Thessaloniki’s Metro station “Venizelos”, dated from 4th to 9th c. AD and connected to the city’s fifteen UNESCO world heritage monuments, is of exceptional importance1 . Nevertheless, the Greek government plans to dismantle this monumental complex (1500m2 ), transfer its pieces to a storage place and, after the completion of the station, transfer them back and reconstruct it. Such a choice destroys antiquities’ integrity and authenticity (basic principles of the UNESCO 1972 Convention)2 and it’s opposed to the scientific world globally3 . On the other hand, there is a more time- and cost-efficient technical option, strongly supported by the civil and scientific society4 , to excavate and construct the station under the archaeological layers, keeping this most important archaeological complex intact “in situ”5 .
1. Is the Commission aware of the appeals of the experts and the civil society? How does the Commission intend to act for the preservation in situ of the above-mentioned outstanding archaeological site, while ensuring the necessary progress of transport infrastructure?
2. Does the Commission confirm that the EU deadline for the completion and functioning of the project is February 2025? Given the fact that the project has been virtually stagnant during the last two years, would the Commission consider an extension of the deadline?
SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance MEPs:
Dimitris Papadimoulis
Kostas Arvanitis
Alexis Georgoulis
Petros Kokkalis
Stelios Kouloglou
Elena Kountoura
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