EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/54

(2004/C 84 E/0061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3146/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(23 October 2003)

Subject: Waterways and cultural tourism between Switzerland and the Adriatic

The Commission has doubtless heard of the plans for the Locarno-Milan-Pavia-Venice waterway, work to reopen which has been launched by the Lombardy Regional Council with the approval of the Piedmont Regional Council and the Swiss Confederation. The programme Interreg III A Italy-Switzerland 2000-2006, which is currently being implemented in respect of designs for the restoration of canal structures, has in fact already been endorsed. This project comprises the renovation of infrastructure and the replacement of the bridges on the Grande and Pavia canals in the Milan region. This work, which has both multifunctional and heritage objectives concerns the oldest navigable canal in Europe (the Naviglio Grande) and the last canal to be built in the Milan region (the Naviglio di Pavia). The latter was the most important work of waterways architecture to be built in Europe in the early 1900s. The total cost of the project is expected to be around EUR 40 million.

1. Could the Commission indicate how much has been allocated to this project under the Interreg ΠΙΑ programme?

2. In view of the value to tourism and culture of restoring the navigational link between Sesto Calende and Pavia by way of the canals referred to above, would the Commission not agree with the prime importance of rehabilitating this infrastructure with a view to establishing a navigable route between Locarno and Venice?

3. Does it not consider the construction of waterway infrastructure that is environmentally and landscape-friendly to be equally as important as major road and rail infrastructure projects?

4. Would it be prepared to finance this rehabilitation within the bounds and in the ways set out in the programmes currently running?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 2003)

The Commission considers that investment in infrastructure for inland navigable waterways of helps to maintain the fluidity of the various modes of transport (river/road, railway and sea) and hence their satisfactory operation. It has part-financed work on navigable waterways, in particular under the Trans-European Networks and the Structural Funds.

The total financial appropriation for the Interreg III A Italy-Switzerland programme is EUR 74 442 644 million. Of this the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will be contributing EUR 2 5 560 000 million.

As regards the environment and protection of nature, the Locarno-Milan ‘cultural tourism’ navigable waterway (Sesto Calende-Lonate Pozzolo stretch) is covered by the above programme (Priority 2 Development of cooperation in land management and conservation of the environmental and cultural heritage, Measure 2.3 Integration and improvement of transport infrastructure and systems), one of whose main purposes is to support alternative means of transport and expand the range of options available for group tourism.

The Italy-Switzerland Programming Committee has approved two projects relating to navigation between Locarno and Milan. The first is a study on the Locarno-Milan route and the second is the actual work to be done on the Sesto Calende-Lonate Pozzolo stretch, which is the part of the route located in the zones covered by the programme. The total cost of the two projects is EUR 1 250 000 and the ERDF contribution EUR 346 500.

The Commission complies with the provisions on management of assistance contained in the Structural Fund Regulations. Thus, the scrutiny, assessment and selection of the actual projects to be included in each programme is entirely a matter for the national and regional authorities appointed by the Member States to act as managing authorities and provide members of the monitoring and steering committees for programmes. The Commission is involved in programming only at the general level and in the committees has solely an advisory function. The correct selection procedures must be observed for projects and they must meet the eligibility criteria set in the programme.