WRITTEN QUESTION P-0888/98 by Dietrich Elchlepp (PSE) to the Commission (11 March 1998)

Subject: Trans-European networks - rail links between Germany and France in the southern part of the upper Rhine valley

1. What is the state of play as regards the planning and development of rail links between Germany and France as part of the trans-European networks?

2. Can TEN funds also be used to finance track-doubling work on the currently single-track rail bridge between Strasbourg and Kehl?

3. Can TEN funds also be used for regional and local cross-border rail projects, e.g. in the southern part of the upper Rhine valley? What other EU financing facilities exist for such cross-border rail projects?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (20 April 1998)

1. The guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) ((OJ L 228, 9.9.1996. )) include two connections between the French and German railway networks: Forbach-Saarbrücken and Strasbourg-Kehl. These two cross-border links form part of wider 'projects of common interest': the construction/upgrading of the Paris - Reims - (Metz - Luxembourg) - Vandières - Saarbrücken - Mannheim axis, with continuation to Frankfurt and Berlin, as well as the construction/upgrading of the Vandières - Strasbourg - Kehl axis, with continuation to Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, München, Salzburg and Wien (- Budapest). Both in France and Germany, relevant measures are foreseen in the medium-term investment plans. France has declared that the construction of the new line between Paris and Vandières shall start by the end of 1999. In Germany, the financing agreement (Finanzierungsvereinbarung) between government and railways for the upgrading of the Saarbrücken - Ludwigshafen section (allowing speeds of 160 to 200 kilometres per hour with tilting trains) will be concluded in the first quarter of this year; works are planned to be completed in 2002. The schedule for the upgrading of the Kehl-Appenweier section will be co-ordinated with the construction and upgrading works in France.

2. Since the bridge is part of a project of common interest as defined in the TEN-T guidelines, TEN-T funds can be granted on the basis of 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 ((OJ L 228, 23.9.1995. )). According to this, Community aid can be granted to projects financed by Member States, or by regional or local authorities, or by bodies working within an administrative or legal framework which makes them equivalent to public entities. The amount of aid granted from the trans-European transport network budget cannot exceed 10% of the total investment cost. The relevant request has to be submitted to the Commission by the Member State concerned. Decisions on the fund allocations will than be made on the basis of a series of conditions and criteria set out in Regulation (EC) No 2236/95, and within the limits of the annual budget available.

3. It is not possible to grant financial aid from the trans-European transport networks budget to any project which is not identified in the TEN-T Guidelines as a project of common interest. Concerning other Community funding possibilities for such regional projects, the Interreg programme does not seem appropriate in this case either. Feasibility studies (and not works) can be financed under this instrument.