Coordinators of Trans-European Transport Network present their annual reports for 2007/08
The eight European coordinators have each presented to Vice-President Tajani with their third annual report giving a detailed “state of play” of the priority projects for which they are responsible. These reports provide EU institutions with a detailed analysis of nine major European projects, showing the important progress which has been made over the past year. For the first time, the two new coordinators for inland waterways and motorways of the sea, have submitted their reports. Alongside, the Commission has launched a broad debate over the future of TEN-T Policy, which will take place in the TEN-T Days 2008, held in Brussels October 14th and 15th.
The annual reports are a further step forward for the European coordinators as they continue to facilitate the implementation of the projects for which they are responsible. The reports reflect the coordinators’ own perspectives and analysis and contain a series of proposals and recommendations to enable all stakeholders in the projects to move forward.
For the first time, activity reports have been submitted by the two new coordinators, for Inland Waterways and “Motorways of the sea”, Ms Peijs and Mr Valente de Oliveira. Their reports will help to give a more complete overview of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T).
As Mr Tajani has the opportunity to draw attention to, these reports will help to remind the realities on the ground, as they “represent important input into discussions that are just getting under way on a review of policy on the Trans-European Transport Networks.” He also highlighted the important role of the European coordinators, as part of the progress made by the projects is due to their close personal involvement. “Given that the TENs are key instruments of economic growth and sustainable development, the coordinators will no doubt continue to have an important role to play in the future”, Mr Valente added.
The TEN policy review will identify upcoming challenges for the TEN-T and enable added weight to be given to the coordinators’ activities. The first phase of the review will see the publication at the end of 2008 of a Green Paper on the future of the policy. This will set out policy options for the coming decade, taking particular account of targets in the fight against climate change and technological advances in the fields of transport and energy. It will also be geared to enhancing the TEN-T’s contribution to achieving the objectives, as regards the economy and economic and social cohesion, of a still-expanding Community.
TEN-T Days, an opportunity for debate on Transport Policy Review
In the same line, the Commission launched October,14th, 2008 a two-day stakeholder conference, held in Brussels, as an opening for reviewing the trans-European transport networks' policy. The review process will address major challenges which the EU will face in the coming decades, such as climate change, competitiveness, social and economic cohesion.
TEN-T Days 2008 is dedicated to a broad discussion on the development of the trans-European transport networks' (TEN-T) policy. With the involvement of stakeholders from all areas concerned, it is expected to have an important input for drafting the Commission's Green Paper on the future of TEN-T policy. This Paper will be published in early 2009 and followed by a public consultation. It will set out options for further developing this policy area.
Trans-European Transport Network Coordinators
- Palermo rail link: Mr Van Miert: Berlin
- South-West Europe high-speed rail link: Mr Davignon
- Lyon - Ukrainian Border rail link: Mr Brinkhorst
- Paris - Bratislava rail link: Mr Balázs
- Main - Danube inland waterway axis; Seine - Schelde Canal: Ms Peijs: Rhine/Maas
- Motorways of the Sea: Mr Valente de Oliveira
- 'Rail Baltica': Mr Telička
- ERTMS: Mr Vinck