Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No. 2236/95 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks"

(COM(2001) 545 final - 2001/0226 (COD))

(2002/C 125/04)

On 18 February 2002 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 156 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 26 February 2002. The rapporteur was Mr Kleemann.

At its 389th Plenary Session on 20 and 21 March (meeting of 20 March), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously.

1. General comments

1.1. Many factors are responsible for the rise in EU traffic levels, but the growth in car traffic - both work-related and private - plays a major part in the use of transport systems. On the one hand, car traffic levels have risen considerably because of the need to commute between home and work, changes in consumer behaviour and the disproportionate growth in leisure travel. On the other hand, traffic density has increased considerably over the past few years, owing to heavy goods vehicles in certain regions and conurbations. Globalisation of the economy, the increased functioning of the internal market, changes in production methods and the logistics associated with this contribute, among other things, to changes in the structure of the economy and inevitably generate increased traffic across all transport modes. With the accession of the applicant countries this will increasingly affect cross-border routes which, according to the Commission, are also currently the weakest points.

2. Specific comments

Current capacity, especially on cross-border routes, is inadequate.

2.1. The ESC therefore agrees with the Commission that additional financial resources are needed for the most urgent improvements in cross-border transport infrastructure, not just within the Community, but also with the applicant countries through other programmes. Given the anticipated volumes of traffic, the question of expanding infrastructure - including rail infrastructure - within the applicant countries (to meet EU standards) should also be addressed during the accession negotiations.

2.2. Even in the case of cross-border rail projects on Community territory involving necessary infrastructure measures, such as building tunnels or bridges, the ESC thinks that their sustainability and economic and social viability should be assessed in all cases.

2.3. The ESC agrees with the new Article 5(3)(a). The rail networks of the applicant countries already fail to meet economic needs and capacity bottlenecks will therefore increase very rapidly given the anticipated economic growth. We would particularly point out that the Community provides alternative funding options (e.g. ISPA, TINA) for the applicant countries, though it must be ensured that these are coordinated with the guidelines.

2.4. With regard to funding for the inland waterway network, the Commission is asked to list in a document all types of funding for transport networks within and outside the Community, especially in the applicant countries.

2.5. Article 5(3)(b) should cover all other projects (road, terminals, air and water, pipelines, etc.) relating to bottlenecks at borders. It would be helpful if the amendment were more specific.

2.6. Article 5(3)(c) is to be endorsed.

3. Conclusions

3.1. The ESC supports the possibility of increasing the ceiling for financial aid from 10 % to 20 % of total investment costs for cross-border transport projects and for projects that make a major contribution to the objectives of the trans-European networks, and it hopes that the goals set are thus achieved more quickly.

3.2. In an own-initiative opinion the Committee is urging that Community financial involvement in projects to improve and extend the inland waterway network be stepped up(1). Community support for the elimination of bottlenecks is also to be doubled (from 10 % to 20 %). Such an increase should on no account be allowed to affect the increase in Community grants for the TENs.

Brussels, 20 March 2002.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Göke Frerichs

(1) OJ C 80 of 3.4.2002, "The future of the trans-European inland waterway network" is currently being drawn up by the ESC.