9. 6. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 138/61 
Opinion on the role of the Community in the development of transport infrastructure 
(memorandum of the Commission) 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the OfficialJournal of 
the European Communities. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 16 January 1980 the Commission referred the abovementioned proposal to the 
Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 75 and 198 (first 
paragraph, second sentence) of the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
185th plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 February 1981. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 75 and Article 198 (first paragraph, second 
sentence) thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the 
Commission on 16 January 1980 for an opinion on 
the role of the Community in the development of 
transport infrastructure, 
Having regard to the report on bottlenecks and 
possible modes of finance sent to the Committee in 
the course of its work for its information, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman 
on 20 February 1980, instructing the Section for 
Transport and Communications to prepare an 
opinion and a report on the matter (Article 22 of the 
Committee's Rules of Procedure), 
Having regard to the opinion issued by the Section 
for Transport and Communications at its 134th 
meeting, held on 12 November 1980, 
Having regard to the report submitted by the 
rapporteur, Mr Kenna, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 185th plenary 
session, held on 25 and 26 February 1981, 
Whereas the development of infrastructure of 
Community interest should be given the 
Community's financial support too, because of 
economic, social, regional and energy 
considerations, HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
I. GENERAL COMMENTS 
The Committee has examined the memorandum of 
the Commission about the development of transport 
infrastructure and the report on bottlenecks and 
possible modes of finance. The Committee has at the 
same time considered the two proposals of the 
Commission dealing with procedures for financing 
infrastructure projects of Community interest. 
Having regard to these two proposals, to the work 
already done by the Commission, and allowing for 
current financial difficulties of the Community, the 
Committee believes that the Community must be 
concerned about transport infrastructure. 
The Committee therefore welcomes the initiative of 
the Commission in promoting a debate about 
Community involvement in transport 
infrastructure. 
The report on which this opinion is based 
concentrates on the major issues. The Committee 
therefore will confine its opinion to the following 
topics: 
1. the concept of a Community approach to 
transport infrastructure; 
No C 138/62 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 6. 81 
2. the timing of Community action; 
3. the availability and methods of financing; 
4. the definition of Community interest; 
5. links with other policies; 
6. research and information. 
II. SPECIFIC COMMENTS 
1. Concept of a Community approach 
1.1. In view of the importance of transport, a 
coordinated approach at Community level to 
develop transport infrastructure must be 
acknowledged and welcomed. The Committee agrees 
with the Commission's arguments in favour of 
Community action in this field. 
1.2. The criteria for Community involvement 
should ensure that the projects selected result in a net 
addition to Community infrastructure and that 
Community spending is not offset or diluted by 
reductions in national spending. The Committee also 
draws attention to the importance of a Community 
infrastructure policy in regional development. 
2. Timing of Community action 
The Committee, while aware that current economic 
and financial problems within the Community, 
including difficulties in regard to supply and cost of 
energy must be taken into account in formulating a 
common policy in this field, none the less considers 
that an infrastructure policy is of such importance as 
to warrant special consideration even in the present 
circumstances. While looking forward to a special 
financial instrument for Community funding, the 
Committee considers that more use might be made of 
existing instruments to promote an improvement in 
Community transport infrastructure, and thus 
provide valuable experience of Community 
involvement with a sample of projects. 
3. Availability of finance 
The Committee believes that the full or potential 
support for Community involvement in 
infrastructure cannot be properly realized unless 
adequate funds are provided by the Community. In 
this regard, the Committee draws particular attention to the importance of a decision in favour of the 
current proposals before the Council of Ministers to 
create a financial instrument for Community 
funding. The Committee urges Member States to 
support these proposals. 
The Committee is aware however, that improvements 
in existing infrastructure can be achieved at little cost 
by the removal of administrative bottlenecks, 
particularly at frontier crossing points (e. g. customs 
formalities). Such bottlenecks should be removed 
without waiting for a Community decision on 
transport infrastructure. 
The Committee suggests that certain criteria relating 
to the methods of financing are essential. The 
methods of financing should therefore: 
3.1. Be flexible and sufficient to cater to the widest 
possible type of project. 
3.2. Be capable of providing finance with minimum 
delay. 
3.3. Facilitate the involvement of Member States 
and provide for consultation with regional and 
local authorities in the selection of projects. 
3.4. Eliminate or reduce national or Community 
administrative involvement in the execution of 
infrastructure projects. 
3.5. Facilitate the removal of bottlenecks arising 
from administrative procedures. 
The aim should be to achieve maximum benefit from 
Community involvement. 
4. Definition of Community interest 
Defining what should constitute Community interest 
is crucial to determining a policy for transport 
infrastructure. The Committee notes the contribution 
made by the report on bottlenecks on this important 
issue. 
The Committee considers that the following should 
be among the factors to be taken into account in 
evaluating Community interest and projects: 
4.1. Community action should be additional to 
national infrastructure programmes. 
4.2. Community involvement should promote 
economic and social development. 
4.3. Community involvement should ensure 
preferential treatment for links to and from the 
less developed regions. 
9. 6. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 138/63 
4.4. Projects should incite national governments to 
plan infrastructure to take account of 
Community trade and economic growth. 
4.5. Projects should have regard to other policies. 
4.6. Criteria used should be sufficiently flexible to 
allow for different projects included in 
infrastructure programmes in individual 
Member States. 
4.7. Community interest should include ports, 
airports and shipping links as part of transport 
infrastructure. 
4.8. Projects which are primarily concerned with 
improving physical or structural elements of 
infrastructure rather than increasing capacity 
should be included. This would include 
development or maintenance of infrastructure 
resulting from the application of Community 
transport policy provided that the 
infrastructure involved is part of the 
Community network and satisfies all the other 
criteria. 
5. Links with other policies 
Transport is an integral part of economic and social 
development. Infrastructure policy must have regard 
to those wider objectives. The Committee therefore 
considers that development of Community 
infrastructure policy must give due weight to the 
following policy areas: 
5.1. Regional policy 
The Committee believes that infrastructure 
development is a significant source of employment 
by lessening the disability of distance. It should 
favour regional development and help reduce 
economic imbalance between richer and poorer 
regions of the Community. 
Done at Brussels, 26 February 1981. 5.2. En vironmental policy 
The need to improve the environment in which we 
live must be weighed against the needs of economic 
and social development. 
5.3. Energy policy 
Transport uses about 14 % of total inland energy and 
24 % of petroleum products in the Community. In 
an energy conscious environment, transport 
infrastructure and related policies must consider the 
usage, cost, and availability of energy. Energy 
consideration should be reflected in the selection of 
projects and in establishing the criteria for 
Community interest. 
5.4. Social policy 
The Committee considers that a Community 
transport infrastructure policy would help create 
employment and improve the mobility of people. The 
Committee is aware that Community action will 
assist social and economic development beyond a 
point which might be attainable by national 
government action alone. 
6. Further research and information 
The Committee welcomes the publication of the 
report of bottlenecks and modes of financing issued 
by the Commission in July of this year. The 
Committee also notes further work being done by the 
Commission particularly the study on criteria for 
evaluating Community interest. The Committee 
considers this type of research very valuable as a 
contribution to the development of policy for 
transport infrastructure. The Committee would stress 
the advantage of examining projects put forward by 
Member States in order to test and evaluate 
projects. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE