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European Commission. Communication Guidelines for transport in Europe and neighbouring regions Patricia FONTAINE. 14 June 2007. Trans-European Transport network (TEN) development. This extension has been made through differents steps: 1993 TEN policy into the Treaty (TEN became an EU
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European Commission Communication Guidelines for transport in Europe and neighbouring regions Patricia FONTAINE 14 June 2007
Trans-European Transport network (TEN) development • This extension has been made through differents steps: • 1993 TEN policy into the Treaty (TEN became an EU competence) • 1996 TEN Guidelines for EU15 (14 priority projects) • 2004 Revision of the Guidelines in view of EU27 (30 priority transnational axes) • 2007 Communication on the extension of the major TENs axes to the neighbouring countries
TRANS-EUROPEAN TRANSPORT NETWORK (TEN) • The TEN-T network established for the EU is aiming in contributing to the smooth functioning of the internal market and the strengthening of economic and social cohesion an to ensuring the sustainable mobility of persons and goods under the best possible social, environmental and safety conditions and integrating all modes of transport.
Background of the Communication TEN-T Guidelines adopted in 2004 covering the territory of EU27 (identification of 30 priority axes) The Pan-European Corridors/Areas, developed in the 1990’s to link the EU15 with the then neighbouring countries, became outdated. Following the 2004 and 2007 enlargements, the corridors are mainly within the EU and thus part of the TEN network. Progress in regional transport cooperation: Western Balkan core network Definition of core network in Turkey Euro Mediterranean regional programme For Asian: TRACECA (Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) and Baku initiative
Starting point for the Communication Aim: To stimulate trade through better connections between the EU and its neighbours Tool: European Neighbourhood Policy and the Accession Framework Methodology: High Level Group chaired by late Loyola de Palacio (former Commissioner) and including the EU27, 27 neighbouring countries and 3 international banks (EIB/European investment Bank EBRD/European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,WB/ World Bank),,
The process 2004 High Level Group was set up 2005Report to the Commission (Vice-President M.Barrot) in December 2005, 2006 Public consultation 2007 Commission Communication “Guidelines for transport in Europe and neighbouring regions” on the way forwardCommunication adopted by the Commission in January and conclusions of the Council for June.
Recommendations of the Communication In line with the recommendations of the High Level Group, the Commission proposes: • To adopt the 5 major transnational axes (most relevant for international trade, traffic, regional integration) • In addition to infrastructure projects, to implement a number of horizontal measures that are typically low-cost with a potentially big effect • To put in place strong coordination frameworks on the basis of existing structure in the region concerned.
Northern and Central Axis • Alignment of the axes through Poland: - (Northern Axis) Multimodal connection Berlin- Warsaw-Minsk-Moscow-trans-Siberian - (Central Axis) Multimodal connection Dresden-Katowice-Lviv-Kiev • (the 2 connections correspond to the Pan-European Corridors II and III)
SOUTH EASTERN AXIS This axis is identical to the TRACECA Corridor in Turkey and the Southern Caucasus
Content of the Communication Concrete proposals of the Communication:
Infrastructure projects on the axes • List 1 – Projects of short to medium term interest (completion by 2020, 62 projects, 35 bn €) • List 2 – Projects of longer term interest (completion beyond 2020, 16 projects, 10 bn €) • List 3 – Other major projects of regional of national interest • The choice of the mode of transport is made case by case for effective investments. • Further studies and project analyses necessary, particularly concerning the economic viability, technical specification, environmental and social impact and financing mechanisms
The horizontal measures In total more than 20 measures were put forward: • Speeding up border crossing procedures • Simplification and harmonisation of trade and transport related documentation (including the language regimes) • Implementation of compatible new technologies (ERTMS/ european rail traffic management system, SESAM/air traffic management system,Galileo/satellite navigation systems) • Measures to improve safety and security in all transport modes • Technical and administrative interoperability
Horizontal measures - Road • To design and implement measures to improve road safety that address driver behaviour, vehicle safety, road infrastructure (safety audits) and traffic management systems, • To gradually upgrade the road network along the major axes for vehicles of 11.5 ton axle load and of 4-metre height.
Coordination framework Existing structures need to be strengthened: • To ensure strong commitment and joint ownership to implement the measures in a timely and synchronised manner along the axes. • To pool together resources to implement the infrastructure and horizontal measures
The group’s recommendations Financing and PPPs • National sources of the countries concerned • Role of the international financial institutions • MoU EIB-EBRD-COMMISSION to facilitate co-operation in eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus, in Russia and central Asia. • Private capital can be usefully complement public financing through public-private parterships • The role of the EU would be to ensure coordination and in this way to act as catalyser. The EU will assist and provide technical assistance under existing instruments (TACIS…) for Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia
PROCESS The Commission has decided to take a two-step approach for the policy implementation: • Exploratory talks will be launched with all the neighbouring countries and will start in Spring 2007. • The Commission will make recommendations and/or proposals on how to implement the policy and the coordination framework • First progress report to the Council in autumn 2007 • Second progress report in 2008
Launch of the exploratory talks Discussion in ASIA • Traceca (the part of TRACECA Corridor which is in the territory of the neighbouring countries)
Connecting beyond the immediate neighbourhood Important to closely coordinate with initiatives/ organisations aiming at developing international transport corridors TRACECA in Central Asia- the region of Caucasus and Central Asia has a great potential to become a transit region for the traffic flows between EU and Far East.
Further information DG Energy and Transport http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/index_en.html Trans-European Transport Networks http://ec.europa.eu/ten/index_en.html catharina.sikow@ec.europa.eu patricia.fontaine@ec.europa.eu