WRITTEN QUESTION E-2825/99

by Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Completion of the Amberg-Waidhaus section of the A6 motorway

The A6 motorway is part of the East-West artery of the trans-European transport network, linking Prague and Paris. It is of crucial importance especially in the context of enlargement to the East.

However, according to the German Government's programme of works, the Amberg-Waidhaus section of the A6 is not due to be completed for the time being. Traffic flows from the East will continue to increase following the integration of the Czech Republic. The existing road network is congested and people living along highways in Germany are suffering from vehicle exhaust and noise pollution.

What does the Commission intend to do to bring forward completion of the A6 motorway?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2000)

The new construction of the A6 motorway between Amberg and the German-Czech State border near Waidhaus has been identified in the guidelines for the development of a trans-European transport network(1) as a project of common interest. The Rozvadov Plzen Praha section is furthermore included in the TINA outline plan, established by the Member States and the acceding countries, which forms a basis for the future extension of the trans-European transport network(2). The Commission, which is fully aware of the importance of the entire Nürnberg Praha axis for the traffic between current and future Member States, follows closely progress in the implementation of this project and supports it within the limits of its possibilities.

The German section Amberg Waidhaus has already benefited from 6,51 million financial aid under the trans-European transport network budget line. This contribution, the amount of which is limited by the corresponding Regulation(3), cannot however replace the financing of the project at national level. The German authorities informed the Commission that the project remains in the Bedarfsplan (priority programme) for national roads and will be completed according to the planned technical standards. However some sub-sections (in particular in the Pfreimd Woppenhof area) could not be included in the

national investment plan for the period 19992002 where priority was given to those projects for which building permits are already available. The Commission considers that the financial aid granted so far has already contributed to reducing the financial difficulties of the Amberg Waidhaus project.

(1) Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community Guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2) TINA: Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment, initiated in the context of the structured dialogue between the Transport Council of the Community and the Transport Ministers of the associated countries in 1995; final report published in October 1999.

(3) 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 amended by Regulation (EC) No 1655/1999 of the Parliament and the Council of 19 July 1999.