12 June 2004 12:19
EU/NEW NEIGHBOURS: EXTENDING THE TRANS-EUROPEAN TRANSPORT NETWORKS OUTSIDE THE UNION
Several geographic groups are affected by this co-operation: to the East, Russia and the Western New Independent
States as well as countries on the Black Sea; to the South, the Balkans and Mediterranean countries. A
Euro-Mediterranean regional transport project has been launched to develop these transport networks. An assessment of
the existing infrastructure in Turkey is already underway. The Balkans and Commission should, in a June 11 memorandum,
announce their plans for regional transport networks.
The high-level group will bring together one representative each from the Commission, from the Council Presidency,
and from all the neighbouring countries. Representatives from Caucasus countries will also take part. For the technical
and financial aspects of these plans, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has already been approached. The high-level
group must identify the priority transport projects to be connected to the TEN-T routes and consider the concept of sea
motorways.
This meeting is only a point of departure, as European Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio pointed out. It is
about identifying the pan-European corridors and connections needed for commercial and economic integration and to
foster exchanges between peoples. Studies show that traffic should double between the EU and its neighbours by 2020. But
infrastructure is not the group's only mission. It should also focus on issues of standardisation and
inter-operability, cross-border connections, and respect for the environment.
[European Report] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
