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Key factors in the transport policy to encourage better integration. Sixty-Third Session of UNECE, Geneva, 30th March 2009 "Economic Integration in the Wider Europe" Mrs. Etelka BARSI-PATAKY Member of the European Parliament. EU TEN-T policy.
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Key factors in the transport policy to encourage better integration Sixty-Third Session of UNECE, Geneva, 30th March 2009 "Economic Integration in the Wider Europe" Mrs.Etelka BARSI-PATAKY Member of the European Parliament
EU TEN-T policy • Major concern: incomplete networks - completion dates for major projects fall behind the original timetables • Enlargements: approach of adding together significant parts of national networks became weaker • New requirements: efficient use of infrastructure and full assessment of environmental impacts of the TEN-T
Measures to be taken • Enhancing the economics of TEN-T projects of high Community interest - towards a core network approach. • Flexibility and market orientation: ensuring optimal integration of "hard" and „intelligent” infrastructure, interconnection between modes • Combined infrastructure offering scope for reducing cost and environmental impact • Ensuring the right infrastructure basis (inter-modal terminals, rail, sea and river port capacity - including land access to seaports) • Creating a truly multi-modal network, enabling efficient traffic flows on a co-modal - achieving climate change objective
Measures to be taken: ITS • ITS: clear potential to enhance efficiency of operations and to improve safety, security and comfort for the user – as EGNOS in 2009 and then Galileo in 2013 become fully operational, these effects will be increased. • tool for tackling congestion (effective demand management and cross-modal network balancing through pricing, implementation of legal provisions) • fighting climate change (energy efficiency, eco-driving, green corridors and a more efficient and effective European co-modal transport system through e-freight, e-maritime). • Including ITS investment in planning of all new TEN-transport projects and considering it as essential element for all infrastructure projects. • Potential for innovation: technological and organisational innovations
Community financial and non-financial instruments in support of TEN-T implementation • Better coordination of all available budgetary resources (TEN-T budget, Cohesion Fund, ERDF and EIB loans) • Loan Guarantee Instrument introduced in 2007 and the Risk Capital Facility make for innovative and promising ways of supporting TEN-T projects. • European coordinators' effective contribution for preparing and implementing priority projects • "Corridor coordination approach" - vital role for solid cross-border coordination - need for involving all relevant stakeholders
Achieving significant progress with UNECE - work in progress • ECE Agreements: defining pan-European and Euro-Asian long-term road – rail- inland water and combined transport networks (AGR, AGC, AGTC, AGN) • Trans-European Motorway (TEM) and Trans-European Railway (TER) Projects • TEM and TER Master Plan: extending geographical coverage to 25 ECE member countries • Euro-Asian Transport Links: joint ministerial statement on future development of Euro-Asian transport links • Establishment of a UNECE Group of Experts on Euro-Asian Transport Links
The challenges to face • Setting priorities for transport links • Strong political and financial commitment at national level • better coordination of programmes and timetables with neighbouring countries • Need for horizontal measures - increasing effectiveness and speed on axes • Ensuring technical, legal and administrative interoperability • Implementation of new traffic management systems in all modes (ERTMS, SESAR, Galileo) • Speeding up border crossing procedures
Achieving prosperity in infrastructure management • Integrating European policy areas: transport, telecommunication, research and innovation and neighbourhood policy. • Special role of major institutional stakeholders: speeding up significantly the completion of the key networks. • European Union: clear policy strategies, assistance of European coordinators, technology initiatives and funding mechanisms - create a highly efficient network incorporating environmental aspects • UNECE: excellent results in developing main infrastructure links with proper coordinative instruments and planning mechanisms • Important future role: achieving clear strategies for speeding up the development of important transport axes • Standard-bearer for solutions to new challenges: implementation of new technologies and achieving interoperability • New prosperity in the European infrastrucure development