# CE2004084EN.01082202.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/822 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/822

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(2004/C 84 E/0917)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0621/04

by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject:   Revision of TEN-T

Subject:

A revision of the EU's Trans-European Networks — Transport (TEN-T) is currently under discussion. A new concept, ‘Motorways of the Sea’, is being introduced in this connection, which can be endorsed in theory but, in practice, there is a great risk of distortion of competition depending on the implementation. In the light of this situation.

Would the Commission provide clarification on the following points:

| — | can ships be regarded as infrastructure in the context of TEN-T and, therefore, be built and purchased using TEN-T finance; |
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can ships be regarded as infrastructure in the context of TEN-T and, therefore, be built and purchased using TEN-T finance;

| — | must support for ‘Motorways of the Sea’ projects always be provided by way of a tendering procedure in the Member State concerned; |
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must support for ‘Motorways of the Sea’ projects always be provided by way of a tendering procedure in the Member State concerned;

| — | will discounts on port dues, stevedoring, pilot services etc. in specific ports in connection with the opening of new routes be taken into account within the ceiling for state aid for the opening of such new routes? |
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will discounts on port dues, stevedoring, pilot services etc. in specific ports in connection with the opening of new routes be taken into account within the ceiling for state aid for the opening of such new routes?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

(6 April 2004)

The Commission proposal of 1 October 2003 on the revision of the Community Guidelines on the development of the TEN-T network (1), proposes amongst other priority projects the ‘Motorways of the Sea’. This concept was already announced by the White Paper ‘European transport policy for 2010: time to decide’ (2) which was presented by the Commission in 2001. The Commission is of the opinion, that this concept has to be applied in a way adapted to the different areas. Whilst Community financial support to the construction of infrastructures as part of the Motorways of the Sea projects is sometimes enough for the successful implementation, sometimes financial incentives beyond the purely infrastructure part may be necessary. This is why the Commission has proposed the possibility of EU co-financing of start-up aid for shipping companies of the motorways of the sea limited to two years, based upon a thorough tendering procedure. Such a support would be applied in accordance with the Community guidelines on state aids with maritime transport published in the Official Journal of the European Union (3) on the 17 January 2004 which allow start-up aids for a maximum period of three years.

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This proposal is now under discussion in the Council and the Parliament.

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(1)  COM(2003) 564 final.

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(2)  COM(2001) 370 final.

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(3)  OJ C 13, 17.1.2004.

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