WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2427/98 by Concepció FERRER to the Commission. Construction of high-speed rail links
Date: 1998-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, FERRER
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, France, Spain, high-speed transport, rail network, trans-European network, transport infrastructure

C 135/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.5.1999

For the specific programme on ‘Quality of life and management of living resources’, the Commission has
proposed ECU 2 635 million, with an indicative percentage breakdown including 7,6 % for the key action
‘Ageing population’ and 20,6 % for the RTD activities of a generic nature. In view of the divergent
positions of Council and the Parliament on the overall funding and the breakdown of FP5, the conciliation
procedure will have to determine the level of funding. The Commission will support all efforts to arrive at
a satisfactory compromise.

No Community funded scientific research into Parkinson’s disease is foreseen outside the fifth framework
programme.

(1) COM(97) 142 final.
(2) OJ C 260, 18.8.1998.

(1999/C 135/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2427/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Construction of high-speed rail links

It appears that some of the sections of the high-speed rail link which is currently being built in southern
Europe will not be finished on time, in particular the Perpignan-Montpellier section. This could defeat the
efforts which have been made along most of the route and will also prevent the area concerned from
enjoying the economic benefits to be derived from the existence of this major rail link.

Is the Commission planning to take any action to speed up the construction of the sections which are
behind schedule, so as to ensure that this major Community transport link is completed on time?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 1998)

The high speed train (HST) railway line linking Madrid-Barcelona to Perpignan and Montpellier, the so-
called HST South, was identified by the Essen European Council as one of the 14 priority projects for
development of the Trans-European networks (TENs) on which the Commission should concentrate its
efforts.

This project benefits from Community financial support through the Cohesion fund and the TEN-T budget
line. It is however true that, although the project is progressing quite well, notably on Spanish territory, the
Perpignan-Montpellier section may be delayed and thereby temporarily reduce the overall benefits of the
whole project.

The Commission keeps in close contact with the French government in order to get precise information on
the construction timetable for this specific section. However, the timetable and all other relevant factors
remain the responsibility of the French authorities. The importance of the Perpignan-Montpelier link was
emphasised in the Report of the High Level Group on TENs Public Private Partnerships and, most
recently, in the Commission’s report to the Cardiff European Council on progress on the 14 priority
projects.

The Commission will continue its efforts to speed up the realisation of the entire project, from Madrid to
Montpellier. By the end of 1998, Réseau Ferré de France, responsible for French national railway
infrastructure, is expected to issue a plan setting out the new railway priorities in France, and the
Commission will continue to emphasise, in this context, the importance of the High Speed Train South.