WRITTEN QUESTION P-1770/99

by Marie Isler Béguin (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 September 1999)

Subject: Railway route across the Pyrenees in the Aspe valley

The route across the Pyrenees via the Aspe valley and the Col de Somport has for several years given rise to conflict between local civil society and the local communities and national authorities concerned as regards the mode of transport to be used. The road is being renovated and widened, whilst there is still an old, partly disused, railway line connecting France and Spain. In view of several protests and environmental considerations the roadworks were suspended and the national authorities, together with the European Commission, started to review the transport strategies and to consider giving priority to a rail link as part of the future trans-European network. However, work on the road was resumed in the valley on 13 September. In the meantime the European Union is already funding a feasilibity study on the rail link and the programme of the current presidency and the Commission's strategic documents state that priority should be given to reviving the railways in Europe as part of a European long-term transport policy.

Can the Commission explain why the roadworks have been resumed?

Has the Union made any other financial commitments concerning the route across the Pyrenees going through the Aspe valley, apart from the afore-mentioned study?

Is the Commission considering taking steps to coordinate the French and Spanish governments in order to put a definitive end to any road development since this solution would make a future rail route pointless, in particular for the transport of goods?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(28 October 1999)

Crossing the Pyrenees raises the thorny problem of the choice between road and rail in sensitive areas. It is true that the Community has jointly financed a feasibility study of the railway route since it is important for all alternative options to be examined. However, that rail link does not at the moment form part of the trans-European transport network as adopted by Parliament and the Council in 1996(1). It can therefore not lay claim to funding under the TEN budget heading.

The decision to resume work on roads is a matter for the Member States concerned themselves, and where there is no infringement of, more particularly, the Community's environmental rules the Commission has no powers of intervention. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that Spain and France have reached an agreement to set up a unit to monitor the trade and traffic flows across the Pyrenees which will enable a full analysis of and any shifts in trade per mode, of the service provided and of the adjustment of the transport infrastructure networks to traffic to be updated very year and be sent to elected representatives and collective and trade organisations, from the end of 1999 onwards.

The Commission intends to continue its dialogue with the Member States and regions concerned by this project in order to satisfy itself that the choices made will be able to take account of both the economic and the environmental constraints. That discussion will, in particular, be one of the challenges involved in revising the approaches towards the trans-European transport network.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.