----

(2004/C 65 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2728/03

by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PSE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject:   Norrbotten rail link

The presentation of the high-level group's work on 30 June 2003 showed that none of the priority TEN-T infrastructure projects include the most northerly parts of Sweden. The Norrbotten rail project is a missing link and a cross-border project of significance for Member States Sweden and Finland as well as for third countries Norway and Russia. Distances for transport in northern Europe are long and there are often no alternative forms of transport or routes. Industry is therefore more vulnerable to disruption than in Central Europe where alternative means of transport do exist.

It is important to ensure that the TEN-T corridors also cover northern Sweden and Finland. Good infrastructure enables development to take place across the Union and it is important for industry and society to have good communications throughout the Union and with the Barents Sea region. The Norrbotten rail link would therefore facilitate exchanges between the Member States and strengthen cohesion.

Can the Commission envisage including the Norrbotten rail link as one of the priority TEN-T projects?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2003)

The High-Level Group on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) was mandated by the Commission to identify by the summer of 2003 the priority projects of the trans-European transport network up to 2020 on the basis of proposals from the Member States and the candidate countries.

The report is available in the internet: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/ten/transport/revision/hlg/2003_report_kvm_en.pdf).

This exercise is part of a broader review of the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. This Group, which was chaired by Mr Karel Van Miert, consisted of one representative from each Member State, one observer from each candidate country and an observer from the European Investment Bank.

On the basis of proposals put forward by the present and future Member States, the Group has selected new priority projects to be carried out between now and 2020.

Some of the main criteria for the Group to select projects are whether the project is part of a main trans-European axis or it crosses natural barriers; whether it could solve congestion problems or it corresponds to missing links; the potential economic viability and other socio-economic benefits have been also taken into consideration. In a second stage, the Group examined the European value added of the project, the strengthening of cohesion and the contribution to sustainable development.

The report of the High Level Group does not contain the railway line in the Swedish region Norrbotten.

However, concerning Sweden and Finland, the High-Level-Group has confirmed the priority for the projects relating to the Nordic Triangle corridors. Furthermore, the proposal to develop the motorways of the sea is a new concept to help by-pass bottlenecks or to better connect the peripheral and island areas of the Union, representing in some cases a genuine competitive alternative to land transport, particularly in the Baltic Sea area.

The Commission is working on a proposal for the revision of the TEN-T Guidelines on the basis of the High Level Group work and findings.

----