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(2004/C 65 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2364/03

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 July 2003)

Subject:   Support for Spanish plans to construct new passes through the Pyrenees

The Spanish authorities are concerned at the lack of response from their French counterparts to their request for support for half a dozen road-building schemes aimed at improving the passes through the Pyrenees.

An agreement between Spain and France is essential if the EU is to be asked to provide 20 % funding for a number of projects of major interest to Spain: a high-capacity link between Pamplona and Orthez, and the links Lleida/Lérida-Viella-Toulouse and Barcelona-Puigcerdà-Toulouse.

Can the Commission explain the nature of the conditions for 20 % Community funding of these projects? Can it state under what conditions it could support the Spanish requests, in the face of the failure of the French authorities to respond?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The High-level Group mandated by the Commission to draw up recommendations for new priority projects in the context of the trans-European networks (1), identified the problems raised by the barrier represented by the Pyrenees. That is why it recommended as a priority project a new high-capacity trans-Pyrenees rail link as proposed by the Commission in its proposal to amend the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (2). Among the other projects of importance to territorial cohesion, the Group also stressed the need to improve road permeability through the Pyrenees.

The transport infrastructure projects eligible for Community financial support under the budget for the trans-European networks have to be identified in European Parliament and Council Decision No 1692/96/EC of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (3). At present, of the links mentioned by the Honourable Member only the Barcelona-Puigcerdà-Toulouse link is part of the trans-European transport network.

In addition, the current Regulation laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks (Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 (4), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1655/1999 (5)) authorises maximum funding of 10 % of the total project cost.

In October 2001 the Commission proposed amendments to this financial regulation in order to raise the maximum rate of support to 20 %, but limiting its application to trans-frontier rail projects crossing natural barriers and trans-frontier connections with candidate countries. The European Parliament approved this proposal on 2 July 2002 subject to a number of amendments. The proposal is now blocked in the Council where it has not yet been possible to reach agreement on either the rate of assistance or on the field of application of the increased rate.

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(1)  See the Group's report on DG TREN's website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/ten/transport/revision/hlg_en.htm

(2)  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (COM(2001) 544 final.

(3)OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks, OJ L 228, 23.9.1995.

(5)  European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1655/1999 of 19 July 1999 amending Regulation (EC) No 2236/95, OJ L 197, 29.7.1999.

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