# CE2004084EN.01082401.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/824 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/824

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(2004/C 84 E/0919)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0629/04

by Willi Piecyk (PSE), Gerhard Schmid (PSE) and Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Subject:   Trans-European Networks — development of the Danube

Subject:

As part of the revision of the Trans-European Networks, the Commission has proposed that development of the Danube should be a priority project. However, the Commission's aims in terms of the extent of development or the depths to be reached are not clear.

In the current debate and in various documents, reference is constantly being made to the so-called ‘Van Miert Group’ recommendations, which firstly identify a number of bottlenecks in the Danube and then propose that improvements be made to these bottlenecks to achieve a draught of 2,5 metres.

A draught of 2,5 metres is not specifically mentioned or called for in these documents, however, and this allows the Member States broad scope for interpretation and creates uncertainty about the extent of development envisaged for the Danube.

Environmentally and economically speaking, the decision on this issue is of vital importance. The more the depth increases, the greater the impact on the Danube's ecosystem and the higher the costs.

| 1. | With this in mind, is the possible co-financing of the Danube projects based on achieving a specific depth? |
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1.

With this in mind, is the possible co-financing of the Danube projects based on achieving a specific depth?

| 2. | If so, what would that be? |
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2.

If so, what would that be?

| 3. | If not, does the Commission believe that the aim of generally improving the stretches defined as bottlenecks is sufficient to be able to apply for and receive financial support as part of the Trans-European Networks? |
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3.

If not, does the Commission believe that the aim of generally improving the stretches defined as bottlenecks is sufficient to be able to apply for and receive financial support as part of the Trans-European Networks?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

(6 April 2004)

The Rhine-Meuse-Main-Danube corridor is a major freight route connecting the North Sea with the Black Sea. Several sections of this waterway pose navigability problems since the draught is less than 2,8 metres at some times of year. The ‘Van Miert Group’ had recommended a minimum draught of 2,5 metres along the entire length of the waterway to give access to vessels of up to 3 000 tonnes.

In its decision of 1 October 2003 (1) the Commission proposes this transport axis as a priority project and identifies a series of bottlenecks which need to be removed in order best to use this transport mode in the interest of the enlarged Europe.

1

The Commission did not propose technical standards for the improvement of navigability for this project due to the fact that Member States have to go through a series of legal, technical and environmental studies in the phase of project planning before putting any specific possible conditions.

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(1)  COM(2003) 564 final.

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