11 Trans-European Transport Network
| (28466)
7369/07
+ ADD1
COM(07) 94
| Commission Report: Trans-European transport network — Report on the implementation of the guidelines 2002-03 pursuant to article 18 of Decision 1692/96/EC
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| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 13 March 2007
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| Deposited in Parliament | 16 March 2007
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| Department | Transport |
| Basis of consideration | EM of 26 March 2007
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | Not known
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
11.1 In 1996 the Community adopted guidelines for the development
of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) — defined
as road, rail, inland waterways, motorways of the sea, seaports,
inland waterway ports, airports and traffic management and navigation
systems. The guidelines provided that the TEN-T should be established
by 2010 through the integration of land, sea and air transport
infrastructure networks. They identified 14 priority axes deemed
to be of European significance in supporting trans-national trade
and cohesion. In 2004 the guidelines were revised — changes
made included:
- extension of the deadline for completing the TEN-T to 2020;
- extension of priority axes from 14 to 30 (the
United Kingdom is involved in five of these); and
- the possibility of coordinators (termed European
coordinators) to be appointed for cross-border priority axes.
11.2 The guidelines require the Commission to report
on their implementation every two years.
The document
11.3 This document is the Commission's report, and
accompanying staff working document, which provides an assessment
of the financial investment in and development of the TEN-T in
2002 and 2003. The report's three chapters cover implementation,
both in general and by mode and sector, horizontal issues, that
is interoperability, research and development and environmental
protection and an assessment of the TEN-T during 2002 and 2003,
including priority projects and sources of funding.
11.4 Amongst the points in the report are:
- investment in the TEN-T for
the 27 Member States in 2002 and 2003 was approximately €82
billion (£55 billion) — €38.5 billion (£25.8
billion) in 2002 and €43.8 billion (£29.3 billion) in
2003;
- 78% of funding came from national public budgets,
15% from European Investment Bank loans and the remainder from
various other sources including Community co-financing programmes;
- distribution of the investment has not differed
significantly from the 1998-2001 period. €38 billion (£25.5
billion) was focussed on railways,€27 billion (£18 billion)
on roads and €10 billion (£6.7 billion) on airports;
- the UK was the third highest investor in the
development of the TEN-T, with €7.91 billion (£5.3 billion)
in these years;
- by the end of 2003 three of the priority axes
had been completed, including the Cork-Dublin-Belfast-Stranraer
rail axis;
- investment in the priority axes alone to the
end of 2004 amounted to €88.5 billion (£59.3 billion).
For the period 2005-2020 the Commission estimates that approximately
€252 billion (£168.8 billion) will be invested in the
development of the network;
- various projects get co-financing from Community
funds, including the TEN-T programme, the Cohesion Fund and the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In the period 2002-2003
€1.19 billion (£790 million) was invested in the network
from the TEN-T programme, 46% being for railway projects. The
allocation of ERDF to priority axes is not available, because
of the decentralised nature of the programme. However, based on
allocations for 2000-2006 (under Objective 1 and 2) an estimated
€34.1 billion (£22.8 billion) has been invested on the
network, using both TEN and non-TEN related expenditure;
- the average annual investment for the 27 Member
States in 2002 and 2003 has increased compared with 2000 and 2001;
- the target date for completion of the network
is in general on track; and
- appointment of European coordinators, acting
on behalf of the Commission, should aid the implementation of
complex priority axes, but the elimination of bottlenecks, especially
on cross-border sections, is lagging behind and needs to be improved.
The Government's view
11.5 The Minister of State, Department of Transport
(Dr Stephen Ladyman) comments that:
- the report highlights the substantial
investment made by Member States in developing the network, including
the success of UK investments in the network with the completion
of the Cork-Dublin-Belfast-Stranraer rail axis;
- the target date of completing the network by
2020 is in general on track;
- the report highlights the need to focus future
TEN-T investment on complex cross-border sections, a point made
also in a 2006 European Court of Auditors special report on the
TEN-T;[25]
- the Commission has sought to address the need
to focus investment through the new TEN Financing Regulation for
the financial period 2007-2013;[26]
- introduction of European coordinators[27]
on certain priority axes is also aimed at ensuring that progress
on complex priority axes is achieved; and
- the Government broadly welcomes the designation
of European coordinators for cross-border priority projects where
delays and/or problems with design, timetabling or funding issues
are occurring and where there will be clear added value.
Conclusion
11.6 This document usefully summarises development
of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) during 2002 and
2003. We clear the report from scrutiny but draw it to the attention
of the House as a source of information about the TEN-T, particularly
its financing.
25 (27448) 8684/06: see HC 34-xxix (2005-06), para
12 (17 May 2006). Back
26
(27581) 10089/06: see HC 41-vi (2006-07), para 3 (17 January 2007). Back
27
(27828) 13027/06 + ADDs 1-6: see HC 41-vii, para 13 (24 January
2007). Back
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