WRITTEN QUESTION E-1678/01

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Transport networks and regional planning

There is a clear correlation between the remote status of certain regions in the EU and their level of economic and social cohesion. There is also a visible concentration of Union resources in favour of the more developed and accessible regions of Europe.

Are there plans for greater coordination and interrelation of transport networks and regional planning at European level?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission takes the view that transport policy, and in particular that involving the development of trans-European transport networks has an important influence on regional planning and can help narrow the disparities between regions.

The second Report on Economic and Social Cohesion(1) states that major efforts were made during the 1990s to provide the regions where development is lagging behind and the Cohesion countries with levels of infrastructure more similar to those in other regions and countries, in particular as regards road infrastructure. This progress was linked to EU structural expenditure with investments in transport infrastructure being targeted at the less developed regions and the Cohesion countries.

A study undertaken recently by the Commission clearly shows that the transport component of the Cohesion Fund is highly advantageous for the less prosperous regions: 20 % of the least well-off ones receive 80 % of the funding and 40 % of the best-off ones receive under 1 %.

Emphasis should be placed also on the implementation of major projects such as the Øresund bridge and tunnel which improves links between the centre of the European Union and the Scandinavian countries where access is important for ensuring the regional cohesion of the Union even if those countries are not lagging behind in economic terms.

It is not correct to say, therefore, that Union resources are being concentrated on transport in the more developed and accessible regions of Europe.

As part of the preparations for a White Paper on the common transport policy and the review of the guidelines on trans-European transport networks, the Commission, however, has been looking at ways of strengthening the contribution the trans-European networks policy can make to the more balanced development of the territory of the Union.

This indicates that improved distribution of transport flows on the territory of the Union is a basic requirement and that steps should be taken therefore to relieve congestion in the central regions and at the same time include the outlying regions in trade flows. New needs are emerging consequently such as the creation of cross-border areas by major infrastructures crossing natural barriers or the rebalancing of seaboard areas.

In the revised guidelines on trans-European networks which the Commission intends to present in autumn 2001, there are plans to put forward measures for removing bottlenecks and to include a small number of new major projects for achieving this aim.

The programme for the setting up of a European Spatial Planning Observatory Network (ESPON) will make it possible to examine in greater depth equal access for regions to infrastructure along with the planning impact of the trans-European transport networks policy.

The initial results of this work are expected in 2003 and could be incorporated in a wider-ranging review of the guidelines on trans-European transport networks which the Commission is planning to put forward in 2004 as a way among other things of introducing the idea of sea motorways and creating better links between remote regions across the continent.

(1) COM(2001) 24 final.