IP/09/208
Brussels, 04 February 2009
Trans-European transport networks: towards a
new policy for meeting future challenges
The European Commission adopted today a Green Paper
setting out the future challenges of its policy for a trans-European transport
network (TEN-T). TEN-T policy needs to be realigned to contribute more
effectively to objectives aimed at combating climate change and to support
Europe's increasing international role through better infrastructure connections
with its neighbours and the wider world. Importantly TEN-T policy also needs to
be adapted to strengthen its supporting role for economic and social
development within the framework of the Lisbon strategy. The integration of all
transport modes and intelligent transport systems can be strengthened if TEN-T
policy provided a basis guaranteeing efficient and safe transport services
reflecting the future demands of citizens and economic operators. In the light
of these challenges and lessons drawn from previous TEN-T policy implementation,
the Commission sets out future objectives and proposes three options for TEN-T
development, while stressing the need for coherence between planning ambitions
and instruments for their implementation.
"We have to develop forward-looking responses to tomorrow’s needs for
transport infrastructure in Europe. While building on 15 years of
experience, we need to harness new ideas to redirect and streamline the policy
approach and – more importantly – the commitment to ensure its full
implementation”, said Vice-President Antonio Tajani in charge of
Transport.
A better integrated trans-European transport network is the basis for
efficient, safe, secure and high quality freight and passenger transport. It is
crucial for contributing to common European objectives, such us the achievement
of climate change objectives, providing better connections between Europe, its
neighbours and the wider world and supporting economic and social development in
the framework of the Lisbon strategy.
Combining all transport modes, making best possible use of fully
interoperable intelligent transport systems and assimilating new transport and
energy technologies are at the heart of a future-oriented network integration.
These three elements support the further development of co-modal transport
services for freight and passengers. In the freight sector, such a network
development approach is for example vital for the expansion of logistics
services which rely on the principle that each transport mode is used according
to its respective advantages within the transport chain, while enhancing the
efficiency of overall operations both from an economic and environmental
perspective.
To support co-modal transport services for freight, infrastructure
development within the framework of the future TEN-T policy needs to give
particular attention to:
- the appropriate development of ports' infrastructure and more efficient
hinterland connections to respond to the increasing role of maritime transport;
- the integration of fully interoperable and commercially viable rail freight
corridors and of Green Corridors;
- the removal of bottlenecks on major transport axes;
- inter-modal connections, freight handling in urban areas and the potential
of air freight transport;
- the application of intelligent transport systems for all transport modes and
new pricing systems, stimulating efficient infrastructure use.
In
parallel, necessary infrastructure for co-modal services for passenger transport
(such as connections between air and rail services or integrated ticketing) need
to be developed too.
TEN-T policy will build on what has been achieved before but will also look
ahead to exploit new opportunities. A further key component to the successful
delivery of TEN-T policy is the range of the instruments available to support
its implementation. In this regard the Green Paper highlights a number of
possibilities both financial and non financial, stressing the need to establish
a good match between the policy ambitions and the availability of suitable
instruments.
The Commission invites Member States' governments and the broad range of
stakeholders – infrastructure managers and users, researches and
investors, economic operators and NGOs, regional and local authorities and
interested citizens – to express their views on three proposed options for
TEN-T development and on the wider policy objectives. The Parliament is also
preparing an own initiative report on the future of the trans-European transport
network which is foreseen to be adopted by the plenary in April 2009.
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