WRITTEN QUESTION E-1046/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Galicia's integration in the trans-European transport networks by means of high-speed rail services.
Date: 2001-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, common transport policy, high-speed transport, rail network, regional policy, trans-European network

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/155

The Stockholm European Council agreed that the modernisation of labour markets and labour mobility
needed to be encouraged to allow greater adaptability to change by breaking down existing barriers. To
that end it agreed that the proposal for a Recommendation of the Parliament and of the Council on
mobility within the Community for students, persons undergoing training, young volunteers, teachers and
trainers (2) should be adopted by June 2001, and that Member States should implement in parallel the
mobility action plan (agreed at the Nice European Council). It also agreed that the Commission would
work with national and local governments, employment services and other relevant actors, to assess before
the end of 2001 the feasibility of establishing a one-stop European mobility information site, in particular
by providing employment services with a Europe-wide database on jobs, curricula vitae and learning
opportunities. This commitment on developing a jobs and learning database (to be interconnected at
European level) reiterates the European Council(cid:146)s expectations in this regard expressed at Lisbon in March
2000, and which is already included in the Employment Guidelines for 2001 (3).

The development of the new labour markets, and the increased opportunities for workers to exercise their
right to freedom of movement, must be seen as complementary to the efforts being made to support local
economies and the creation of
job opportunities in the less developed regions. The Community(cid:146)s
commitment in this direction is self-evident through the various Structural Funds, in particular for regional
development, agricultural reform, employment and training, and infrastructure. Job opportunities are being
created in regions which not only help the employment of local residents, but which may attract workers
from other regions or Member States.
in border regions, where employment pools are
complementary, the reduction of obstacles to mobility will contribute to local development via increasing
numbers of commuter workers.

In addition,

(1) COM(2001) 116 final.
(2) COM(1999) 708 final.
(3) Council Decision 2001/63/EC of 19 January 2001 (cid:129) OJ L 22, 24.1.2001.

(2001/C 340 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1046/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 April 2001)

Subject: Galicia(cid:146)s integration in the trans-European transport networks by means of high-speed rail services

The Spanish central government, in agreement with the regional government of Galicia, which are both in
the hands of the same political force, has submitted an access plan for high-speed trains to Galicia covering
the period 2001-2007. However, the information available shows that the plan is not based on the
approach required for trans-European high-speed rail networks, either in its general guidelines or in the
technical solutions chosen. As well as failing to guarantee implementation in the period 2000-2007, the
central government(cid:146)s plan does not envisage the electrification of Galicia(cid:146)s entire internal network, does not
upgrade the main Atlantic line between Ferrol and Vigo or the Vigo-Oporto section linking Galicia to the
Oporto-Lisbon mainline to a double track, and also makes no provision for a double track on the sections
linking Santiago and Orense, Orense and Puebla de Sanabria and Monforte and Ponferrada. The project is
designed more as a link between Galicia and Madrid, in the centre of the peninsula, than as a link between
Galicia and the north of the peninsula, Portugal and the centre of Europe, which is what Galician society
and the Galician economy need and would reflect the thinking behind the TETNs. Moreover, the state
budget estimates for the 2000-2004 term do not include any appropriations earmarked for this plan.

Is the Commission aware of these discriminatory projects? Will the Commission demand that the Spanish
government use European funds in accordance with the European Union(cid:146)s objectives of regional balance
and social cohesion, thus promoting Galicia(cid:146)s integration in the trans-European high-speed rail networks in
the period 2000-2007?

C 340 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2001)

According to the information in the Commission(cid:146)s possession the cooperation agreement concluded
between, in particular, the Spanish Minister of Equipment and the Government of Galicia for the purpose
of improving the railway network is aimed at the network within Galicia.

The Commission feels that it would be useful to point out once more that it is Parliament and Council
Decision No 1692/96 of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-
European transport network (1) which sets out the terms of reference, at European level, for expanding that
network. The latter thus consists of a high-speed railway network comprising new lines to be built and
existing lines to be upgraded, together with a conventional railway network generally consisting of existing
lines. The Santiago-Ourense section forms part of
the conventional railway network, whereas the
Monforte-Ponferrada section has been entered as lines to be upgraded for high speed. The abovementioned
decision does not however specify the number of tracks nor requires that the conventional railway
network be electrified. Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996 on the interoperability of the high-
speed trans-European railway system applies to the high-speed railway network (2).

The decision referred to above also identifies a list of specific projects. However, on 24 April 2001
Parliament and the Council adopted an amendment to that decision relating, inter alia, to that list. That
amendment will replace project No 8 by the projected multi-modal
link between Portugal and Spain
consisting,
in particular, of the A Coruæa-Lisbon corridor, the latter including conventional sections
between Vigo and Oporto and Ferrol and Vigo. That amendment thus represents a new political support at
Community level for developing the railway route linking Galicia with the Oporto-Lisbon route referred to
by the Honourable Member.

The Commission feels, as regards the aims concerning territorial balance and economic and social cohesion
that, if account is taken of the trans-European road network linking Galicia with the other regions, all of
the provisions set out in the Community decision referred to above relating to that region should help
significantly to improve the links between Galicia and the other regions. It should be borne in mind as
regards the use of Community financial assistance that decisions to grant Community funding are taken in
accordance with the rules applying to each individual financial instrument.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.
(2) OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.

(2001/C 340 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1051/01

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Transfer of footballers (cid:129) Free movement of persons

Can the Commission state whether it still maintains the position taken by Commissioner Diamantopouloul
in her answer of 19 December 2000 to my Written Question E-3535/00 (1), when she said that (cid:145)the
Community law provisions on the free movement of workers apply to all Union citizens who have
reached the minimum age fixed by the host Member State for access to its labour market, including sports
activities, given the recent settlement of the transfer issue(cid:146) which clearly discriminates on grounds of age.
Would the Commission accept similar discrimination in other industries?

(1) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001, p. 187.