WRITTEN QUESTION E-1361/01

by Theodorus Bouwman (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(7 May 2001)

Subject: Allemagna axis from Venice to Dobbiaco, including the E66 Fortezza-San Candido road

With its Decision No 112 of 2 November 2000, the Italian Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE) has finalised the Italian proposal for updating the TEN-T networks and has invited the Italian ministries to negotiate with the EU on that basis. The Italian TEN-T review proposal includes, in the part devoted to the road network maps, the Alemagna axis. This axis, extending for a stretch of more than 252 km, as the CIPE itself admits, is made up by the existing motorway A27 between Venice and Pian di Vedoia, the section of National Road SS51 Alemagna from Pian di Vedoia to Dobbiaco, which is to be enlarged, and, finally, the section of National Road SS49 and SS49bis from S. Candido to Fortezza, which is to be enlarged as well. This route is to become, together with the Brenner axis and a section of Route E70, part of a transport network system aiming to improve the corridor that links the North Atlantic area with the Mediterranean harbours.

This project, endorsed by the Italian proposal, openly fails to comply with the Alps Convention and particularly the Transport Agreement signed in Lucerne on 31 October 2000, which Italy also signed; a project of this sort would entail further investment in road infrastructure and a heavier road traffic flow, both of which are incompatible with the environment of the Dolomites, economic interests in connection with tourism and the inhabitants' quality of life.

Has the Commission any intention of supporting the development of the Alemagna axis transalpine highway? Does the Commission not consider that such a development would undermine efforts to move towards sustainable mobility in sensitive areas like the Alpine region?

What is the Commission going to do to prevent this road development from taking place and, instead, to support investments to promote the shift towards other sustainable transport modes such as rail? Does the Commission share the view that, instead of new highway routes, softer solutions in terms of road traffic management should be supported for instance by improving the existing roads and bypassing towns and villages if we want to reduce the conflict between road traffic and the existing human settlements in the Alps?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2001)

The Alemagna road link consisting of the A27 and SS51 from Venice to Dobbiaco and the SS41 from Fortezza to S. Candido is not part of the trans-European network identified in Decision No 1692/96/EC of Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network(1). Under the terms of the Decision, the plan to develop this link cannot be considered a project of common interest and therefore it cannot receive financial support as part of the trans-European network under 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(2).

The Commission is currently examining the amendments which will have to be made to the Decision to take account of economic and technological developments in the transport sector, especially in rail transport. The objective is to restore the balance between different modes of transport and develop intermodality, which will be the key topic of the next White Paper on common transport policy.

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that it has already proposed that the Community sign the Alps Convention transport protocol, the implementation of which would limit the development of new high-capacity roads for trans-Alpine traffic.

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's view that it is particularly important to develop intermodality and improve the management of traffic across the Alps. This is why it intends to carry on giving sustained financial support to several rail and traffic management projects, notably projects 1 and 6 concerning the Mont-Cenis and Brenner tunnel crossings.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995.