Debate: Connecting Europe Facility - Streamlining measures for the realisation of the TEN-T - Railway safety and signalling: Assessing the state of play of the ERTMS deployment
Date: TUESDAY, 6 JULY 2021
Speaker: Adina-Ioana Vălean
Language: EN

The trans—European networks represent the physical connections between our countries – the transport, energy and digital connections. Where we have physical links, economic, social and emotional links always follow. This makes the trans—European networks vital for our single market, but also the integration at the heart of the European project. With the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) we have a tool to future—proof our trans—European networks for transport, energy and digital. CEF II, which you are endorsing today, will support the goals of the European Green Deal and our sustainable and smart mobility strategy with at least 60% of funding allocated to actions supporting the EU’s climate objectives. For transport, the focus is on completing the TEN—T core network by 2030 and the wider network by 2050, but CEF is also supporting the large—scale deployment of the infrastructure for alternative fuels. We will also be making the network fit for the digital revolution, crisis—proof and resilient to climate change. Safe and secure parking areas, and improvements on road safety in cohesion countries will also be supported. Last but not least, we will back projects that facilitate civilian defence, dual use of our TEN—T infrastructure. For energy, CEF supports the development of priority cross—border energy infrastructure projects as part of the TEN—E networks, further integration of the internal energy market and interoperability between networks across borders. It also includes a new window for cross—border projects in the field of renewable energy to support renewable projects, and for digital CEF supports the deployment of state—of—the art digital networks and 5G systems. The pandemic and the accompanying demand for secure internet connections and higher capacity has underlined the importance of continued network investment.  I would like to thank the European Parliament, and in particular the rapporteurs Mr Marinescu, Mr Riquet and Ms Virkkunen for their constructive and dedicated work throughout the legislative process and their continued support for the CEF Programme. Once we have agreement on CEF II Regulation we will be able to start work first by approving work programmes for each sector, then by publishing the first call for proposals in September. About the TEN—T streamlining, today you will also adopt our proposal on streamlining the processes involved in advancing the TEN—T. The smoother the process, the faster we will have the full network in place, the earlier the citizens will benefit from investment, including those coming from the CEF. Investing in TEN—T infrastructure projects involves environmental assessments, land—use approvals, public procurement, state aid procedures and other authorisations and permits. The complexity involved, the different procedures across Member States, often cause delays to TEN—T projects, in particular of transboundary nature. This in turn means cost overruns which is off—putting for private investments. Simply, shortening permit procedures could have an impact, including ultimately on how efficiently public money is spent.  This is the aim of our proposal. As we move steadily out of the COVID—19 pandemic, it is no exaggeration to say that the adoption of this legislation will also aid economic recovery in Europe. With faster and clearer permit procedures we will make better use of the time and money invested in the TEN—T network. It is also essential that the investment of public money benefits all EU citizens’ health, the importance being to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and older persons in transport infrastructures, infrastructure projects.  Transport infrastructure projects will always be subject to contingencies. However, the Streamlining Directive, which is the first of its kind in the transport sector, sets the framework for the future, and I thank the rapporteur Mr Riquet for his work on the file.  I would like also to say a few words on ERTMS as I know that you will also be discussing Ms Bilbao Barandica’s report on this today. My thanks to Ms Bilbao Barandica for the initiative. It really must remain a central pillar in Europe’s transport mix. If more people choose rail we will be on track to meet our emissions targets. But to win over passengers and freight, rail must do better. Improving rail performance is what ERTMS, and more broadly the digitalisation of rail, is all about. High—level ERTMS is the fastest and cheapest way to add capacity to the network. To address some of the points raised in the report, in the short term I would hope that Member States live up to their deployment commitments but it is both deployment of ERTMS at level two or above and the removal of class B systems that will take us beyond this complex expensive transition phase to a simpler, cheaper more uniform system. The Commission has tools to influence this and will use them, but delivery trackside and on board trains is the key to success.  On funding, the responsibility is shared. The EU has funded ERTMS with around 4 billion since 2007, and more will certainly follow, but the deployment for just the core network corridors and vehicles costing around 15 billion between now and 2030, EU funding alone will not be enough. We will also need Member States, the European Investment Bank and other support.  As we move forward I’m confident that having the European Railway Agency, as the ERTMS System Authority, will mean improvements in ERTMS deployment. Next year we will present a revision package for technical specification for interoperability, setting out the regulatory framework for further improvements. In the longer term I look forward to the migration to radio—based L2 or L3 ERTMS for greater technical and operational harmonisation. I hope to see Europe’s rail joint undertaking coordinating this, taking us towards a genuine European rail traffic management system.  To summarise, the Commission shares the goals set out in Ms Bilbao Barandica’s report and broadly the same diagnosis of how to support ERTMS deployment. So ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your time. I’m looking forward to further comments coming from you and to continuous cooperation on this topic.