WRITTEN QUESTION E-1869/98

by Luigi Caligaris (ELDR) and Eolo Parodi (PPE) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Construction of the Lyon-Turin-Milan-Venice-Trieste link and connection to the port of Genoa

The Italian, Slovenian and Hungarian authorities recently signed an undertaking to create an "authority" to find the funding needed for the construction of the V corridor linking Trieste with Kiev via Ljubljana and Budapest.

It will not however be possible fully to exploit the V corridor unless the Lyon-Turin-Milan-Venice-Trieste trans-European link, of which it is the natural extension, is properly developed. An adequate land link between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries of the European Union (Spain, France and Italy) and their respective ports (particularly Barcelona, Marseilles, Genoa, Venice and Trieste) will in fact be possible only if that link is properly developed.

1. How far has work progressed on the Lyon-Turin-Milan-Venice-Trieste link and when is it scheduled for completion?

2. Does the Commission not think that long delays in completing that link compared with the east-west trans-European links north of the Alps would hamper balanced development of intermodal transport at European level and limit the possibilities of access to the European subcontinent from the Mediterranean and its ports?

3. What measures should be adopted by the authorities of the Member States through which the link passes?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 1998)

The Commission recognises the importance of the high speed line Lyon-Trieste for the development of a balanced trans-European transport network, as specified in 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(1). The project is expected to improve substantially the competitive position of railway freight services. The high speed line will be able to accommodate both passenger and freight services of high quality and the new axis will free capacity on existing railway lines. This capacity could be used to improve freight as well as local and urban services.

According to Article 129c of the EC Treaty, responsibility for the implementation of the projects of common interest lies mainly with the Member States. While there has been some slippage in the project due to its complexity and to constraints on the availability of public finance, the project is at an advanced stage of preparation. The draft summary plan has been finalised for the Lyon-Montmélian section; works have started on some major connecting points in Italy; public funding has been secured for some sections in Italy; and, for the international section, France and Italy have agreed to finance the study phase until 2000. The Community has already granted 95 MECU to the project (until 1997) in support of studies and preparatory works.

It is difficult to assess precisely what impact the slippage may have on the development of combined transport services and on the role of the ports affected by the Lyon-Trieste link. In this respect it is worth mentioning that investments are under way in Italy to improve the Genoa/Voltri - Novara - Domodossola, the Pontebbana, and the Brenner railway lines. These investments will mainly benefit freight services and have received Community support. In addition the French and Italian governments have agreed to undertake investments on the existing lines to increase capacity in the medium term, mainly for freight services, while in Italy the existing Turin-Trieste line is being improved.

Further information on this project, including progress and the timetable for planned implementation, can be found in the document "Trans-European Transport Network: report on progress and implementation of the 14 Essen projects, 1998"(2) and its accompanying fact sheets which are being sent direct to the Honourable Members and to Parliament's Secretariat.

(1) OJ C 228, 9.9.1996.

(2) COM(98) 356 final.