Roadblocks for two concessions

The government would love to see the money from the concessions of Attiki Odos and Egnatia Highway reach its coffers this year, in order to help pay back part of the country's debt. Increasingly, this seems unlikely.

The concession of the Egnatia Highway, the west-east route in northern Greece and three access highways, as well as the new deal for Attiki Odos, the ring road that skirts northern Athens and is also a link to the capital's airport, were supposed to bring in €4.7 billion, well over 1% of the total public debt.

According to the agreement with Greece's creditors, the money from the concessions is to be used exclusively to pay back the country's debt. "It will take significant effort and coordination by all interested parties - the state, private operators and several agencies - for these transactions to close by the end of the year," a government official...