European Commission 3 rd Expert Group Meeting Transport

European Commission 3 rd Expert Group Meeting Transport Euro-Asian Linkages Sanna Kuukka 27 -29 June 2005 Directorate-general for Energy and Transport

High Level Group II - Background l Revised TEN-T Guidelines were adopted in April 2004 including a list of 30 priority axes and projects covering the territory of the EU 27. l Good links between the EU and the neighbouring countries are important to enhance trade, economic development and sustainability. l Since the 1990 s, cooperation exists in the context of Pan-European Corridors and Areas, MEDA programme, Traceca corridor linking Europe to Caucasus and Central Asia. l A ministerial meeting on “Transport for Wider Europe” in Santiago de Compostela in June discussed the connections between the enlarged EU and the neighbouring countries and launched the idea of a High Level Group. Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 2

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 3

High Level Group - Members l 25 neighbouring countries and regions: u Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya (as observer), Morocco, Moldova, Norway, Palestinian Authority, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo (under UNMIK administration), Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. l Representatives of EU 25 and Bulgaria and Romania l International financing institutions u u u European Investment Bank (EIB) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) World Bank (WB) Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 4

High Level Group - Objectives l Proposals to the Commission on: u. A limited number of priority axes connecting the Union with its neighbours with a focus on international exchanges and freight movements (5 -7) u. A short list of priority projects on these axes, including motorways of the sea u How to improve the efficiency of the current transport networks through horizontal measures, e. g. interoperability, border-crossings, safety & security u How to finance the proposed projects and measures Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 5

High Level Group - Identification of major axes and priority projects l Identification of major transport axes connecting the EU with the neighbouring countries or broader regions. This step should offer a tool to select some 5 -7 major axes that are most used and pertinent to international exchanges and traffic and also strengthen long term regional integration and cohesion. l Identification of priority projects on these major axes that are feasible and demonstrate the best value for money in terms of their economic, social and environmental impacts. A highly selective approach is again important to ensure that limited resources are put to best use. Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 6

Criteria for identifying major axes “Pan-European interest” l Institutional dimension u u l links to one of the 30 major TEN axes and projects to the neighbouring countries and broader regions Takes into account international agreements and other joint decision and actions (Black Sea PETr. A and TRACECA) Functional dimension u u u the amount of long-distance international traffic now and a forecast for 2020 the volume of transit traffic alternative which shorter, environmentally friendlier and safer than the established route Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 7

Criteria for selecting priority projects l First stage – pre-selection u priority transnational axes u sufficient size and significance (0. 15% of GDP) u firm commitment (works before 2010 and completion by 2020) l Second stage – evaluation u improving economic efficiency u enhancing environmental sustainable of transport system u improving transport safety and security Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 8

Horizontal priorities – state of play l l l Motorways of the Sea and Intermodality Maritime Safety Road safety, weights and dimensions Rail interoperability Air Traffic Management Inland waterways Satellite navigation Border crossing procedures, incl. customs Security Financing Coordination modalities Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 9

Timetable l Meeting schedule in 2005 u u u u l l 10 -11 January – regional 14 -15 February – regional 7 March – plenary 30 -31 May – plenary 11 -12 July – plenary Recommendations on outstanding horizontal priorities Identification of priority projects September – plenary & regional Outstanding issues, horizontal and projects Draft report October Final report - autumn 2005 Communication from the Commission end 2005 or early 2006 Directorate-general for Energy and Transport 10