A financial and political programme:
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Energy and transport are the pivotal points of the European modern way of life.
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The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport is responsible for elaborating and implementing the European policies regarding energy and transport. It is in charge of ensuring that these are designed in the interest of all: industry, cities, and countryside, also of the citizens. Viewed as pivotal points of the European modern way of life, the sectors of energy and transport must take into account the economic, security, and environmental aspects, as well as the social requirements. The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport carries out this mission by drawing up legislative propositions, managing programmes and financing different project such as Lyon-Turin …
Trans-European networks
Structures designed to ensure free circulation and growth
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The construction of Trans-European connections is also an important element driving economic growth and creating employment.
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The idea of Trans-European networks “TEN” emerged in the 1980s, at the same time as the “common market”. The creation of a modern and efficient link was necessary for the free circulation of goods, individuals and services…
Trans-European networks: important components to ensure European economic cohesion.
The European Community has identified Trans-European networks as essential components for «the creation of an intra-Community common market, also for consolidating economic and social cohesion». It has defined priorities regarding programmes of common interest to be undertaken in different sectors, including transport, in order that interactivity be created between existing networks. |
Trans-european transport network outline plan - Railways © DG Energy and Transport
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Europe supports the realization and the financing of the Trans-European Networks (TEN).
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The role of the TEN is essential to guarantee the competitiveness and the cohesion of the European Union."The construction of the Trans-European Network is a key element of the economical competitiveness and of a balanced and long-lasting growth of the European Union", says Jacques Barrot, Vice President of the European Commission in charge of Transports, about the issue.
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In April 2004, the European Commission identified a list of 30 priority projects to be achieved within the Trans-European transports network. These projects alone represent an investment of 225 billion Euros.
The Lyon Turin link, one of the main project of the TEN.
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The Lyon Turin link has been part of the priority projects list from 1999 and in April 2004 was confirmed during the revision of that list.
Since 2005, the Lyon Turin link has even become one of the six European projects being granted a coordinator designated by the European Commission. After Mrs Loyola de Palacio, nowadays it is Mr Laurens Jan Brinkhorst which should follow in this context the axis Lyon-Turin-Budapest.
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Corridor 5
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8 billions granted to the TEN within 2007-2013
A large number of common interest projects benefited during the previous budget periods of a financial support from the European Union, throughout the TEN budget line, structural Funds or from the cohesion Funds. The European Bank of investment (BEI) also brings a contribution to the financing of these projects through loans.
Between 2001 and 2006, the budget granted to the TEN amounted to 4 billion Euros for the financing of studies and works.
The TEN budget was increased up to 8 billion Euros for the period 2007-2013. This budget will support the financing of the studies and works of the priority projects.
Within the new TEN financial guidelines, and to avoid any "sprinkling", the European Commission wished to concentrate more its financings by granting a financial support up to 50% of the cost of the studies and up to 30% of the cross-border sections and of some bottlenecks regarded as the most unfavourable points of the network,.
On 23rd May 2007 the European Parliament voted for the new financial regulation on TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Networks). The text provides for a European Funding up to 30% for cross-border facilities of main projects (for instance the cross-border section of the Lyon – Turin connection and the Brenner tunnel). The States will have to forward their application for co-funding to the European Commission from now until July 2007. As far as the Lyon–Turin connection is concerned, the European Coordinator has recommended an application for funding for 1 Billion Euro.
On the basis of the projects submitted by the end of 2007, the Commission will define the approximate programm for the years 2007- 2013 in which the funds, the years of service and the sections will be fixed.
June 2008 is the deadline within which European Union countries must prepare the application of the Eurovignette directive. This is the framework permitting to increase pay tolls for freight road traffic in order to encourage transfer to railway transportation of goods. The same directive establishes that additional
pay tolls may be destined to fund RTE-T priority projects such as the base tunnels of the Turin-Lyon and of the Brenner. Italy and France are both preparing the application of this directive on their road networks.
