European Commission

High Level Group Extension of the major trans European transport axes to the neighbouring countries and regions

Directorate general for Energy and Transport

15 September 2006

Background

 New political and geographical context:  Adoption of the Guidelines for trans-European transport  networks on 29 April 2004 for the territory of EU27 Accession of 10 new Member states on 1 May 2004  Need to integrate regional exercises into a coherent framework:  Pan-European Corridors and Areas mostly in EU territory    TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) Euro Mediterranean regional transport programme South East European MoU signed in 2004  European Neighbourhood and Partnership Policy launched in preparation of the financial perspectives 2007-2013 Directorate general for Energy and Transport 2

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The High Level Group

The Commission Decision of 29/9/2004 established the Group  Chair of the Group - Ms Loyola de Palacio  26 neighbouring countries: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya (as observer), Morocco, Moldova, Norway, Palestinian Authority, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine  EU27: Member States + Bulgaria and Romania  EIB, EBRD and World Bank  Commission provided the secretariat for the Group Directorate general for Energy and Transport 4

The Group’s methodology

Following the mandate given by the Commission, a 3-step approach agreed upon from the outset of the work

1.

Criteria for identifying major axes 2.

Criteria for selecting priority projects 3.

Horizontal measures (“soft” measures)

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Methodology - Step 1

Criteria for identifying major axes

 

Institutional dimension

a priority axis should facilitate and stimulate the development of exchanges between the European Union and its neighbours by extending the major TEN axes to the neighbouring countries or broader regions, taking into account the existing priority reference networks and corridors in the different regions

Functional dimension

in addition to carrying significant volumes of inter-regional long distance traffic, a priority axis should be an important route for international traffic flows between the EU and the neighbouring countries or regions, in particular in the longer term. In addition, a priority axis can be a route that allows traffic to avoid a major environmental bottleneck or barrier Directorate general for Energy and Transport 6

Methodology – Step 2

Criteria for selecting priority projects

First stage – pre-selection

 Part of one of the priority transnational axes   Sufficient size and significance There should be a firm commitment by the country concerned

Second stage – evaluation

 Improving economic efficiency   Enhancing environmental sustainability of the transport system Improving transport safety and security Directorate general for Energy and Transport 7

The Group’s recommendations



5 major transnational axes to focus cooperation and financing



2 indicative lists of infrastructure projects



>20 horizontal measures: less costly and easier to be implemented rapidly

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Recommendations - 5 axes



Motorways of the Seas



Northern axis



Central axis



South Eastern axis



South Western axis

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Directorate general for Energy and Transport

Recommendations - Projects

 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 €)  Further

studies and project analyses

necessary, particularly concerning the economic viability, technical specification, environmental and social impact and financing mechanisms Directorate general for Energy and Transport 11

Recommendations - Horizontal

     Technical, legal and administrative

interoperability

(railways, signalling systems, infrastructure charging) Efficient

border crossing

procedures (implementation of relevant international conventions (UNECE, IMO), “one stop” offices, simplification and harmonisation of trade and transport related documentation) Effective and compatible traffic management and information systems, satellite navigation (Galileo)

Safety and security

procedures) (harmonisation of standards and Application of international conventions and environmental assessment, public procurement procedures etc. in accordance with the EU standards, donors' funding rules and best international practice.

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Way ahead

 Public consultation open December-March  Report and recommendations welcomed   Environmental organisations expressed some concern regarding the lack of environmental analysis Effective cooperation structure supported  Commission will present a

Communication

the Council and the European Parliament in to autumn 2006  Connections with other countries to be developed – cooperation with UNECE Directorate general for Energy and Transport 13

Further information:

http://ec.europa.eu/ten/transport/index_en.htm

e-mail tel. [email protected] +32-2-2962125 Directorate general for Energy and Transport 14