TEN-T Policy Review and the Position of the South East European Core Regional Transport Network
During the last year, the European Commission initiated an
extensive review process of the trans-European transport network
policy (TEN-T). Through that process the objectives and options for
the future TEN-T development should be set in a way to enable
further economic growth, economic and social cohesion, as well as
the strengthening of Europe's international role. The Commission
foresees, as a major legislative proposal to follow, a revision of
the TEN-T Guidelines.
SEETO Region Initiative
Having in mind the fact that SEE Core Regional Transport Network
is a precursor for the TEN-T comprehensive network in the South
East Europe and that SEETO Regional Participants are in the process
of accession to the EU, several SEETO Participants took the
opportunity to participate in the TEN-T review process.
The first input was made when the European Commission
opened the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy review
on February 4th 2009, by publishing a Green Paper (COM
(2009) 44 final). In April 2009, SEETO submitted their contribution
to the consultation on the Green Paper, where it is stated that the
TEN-T linkage with the SEE Core Network should be taken into
account during the revision process, in order to provide efficient
and functional link between the EU and the South East Europe. Maps
with the Core Network and connections between TEN-T and Core
Network were attached in order to provide information on links and
missing connections.
A further step was made at the conference "TEN-T Days 2009: The
future of Trans-European Transport Networks: building bridges
between Europe and its neighbors", held in Naples (Italy) on
October 21-22nd, 2009. Transport Ministers and high
representatives of SEETO Participants stressed the importance of
cooperation in establishing an efficient European transport system
as multimodal transport system, which will ensure a suitable
density of infrastructure, with a balanced modal distribution. They
supported the results which have been achieved in acquis
transposition and implementation and stressed the importance of
removing the non-physical barriers in the transport sector
In mid 2009 the Commission set-up six expert groups in order to
enhance the TEN-T review process. The Expert Group 4 [1] "Ten-T Extension outside the EU"
was dedicated to the extension of the Core Ten-T Network outside
the EU which meant identifying those external and internal core
nodes and links that have to be connected to the EU TEN-T Network.
Members of the expert group were, among the others, several SEETAC
Steering Committee members.
The following extracts from the Expert Group 4 recommendation
give a very good insight on the SEE Core Network position in TEN-T
Review process:
"To ensure the connections of the core internal market with the
network of neighboring countries is fundamental to check whether
the methodology for the selection and prioritization of projects
and network is consistent with the EU and non-EU countries. In this
regard a distinction should be made:
• For candidate countries, both current and potential, the
same methodology in the TEN-T guidelines should be applied. Full
consideration should be given to the comprehensive network already
identified in some neighboring areas (Western Balkans -
Mediterranean) and based on the current TEN-T methodology. The
content of the conceptual pillar must be applied, as part of the
aquis communitaire."
The final report and recommendations of the Expert Group 4 and
of other expert groups can be find on the DG MOVE web site.
Next steps in TEN-T Policy Review
The Commission's Working Document "Consultation on the Future
Trans-European Transport Network Policy" was published on May
4th, 2010 launching a public consultation regarding the
issues of TEN-T planning and implementation, which will remain open
until September 15th, 2010.
This document is based on recommendations of expert groups
(strategic network planning methodology, connections beyond the EU,
innovative infrastructure measures (ITS), legal and financial
aspects) and strategic documents relevant for the European
transport system development ("Europe 2020" strategy, development
of internal market, environment etc.). SEETAC Partners should make
an additional effort to participate in the Public Consultation and
present their comments and ideas to the Commission. It is an
excellent opportunity to highlight and support the idea of the SEE
Core Network inclusion into the TEN-T (which is already done within
SEETAC reference network). Project results, at this stage, should
prove the benefits of a unified South East Europe transport system;
emphasize their strengths and point out the weak spots which should
be improved.
In the second step SEETAC should rise some important questions
about development of a dual layer TEN-T in the South East Europe,
elaborate potential candidates for the future core TEN-T network
(strategically most important nodes and links) and help the project
Partners and the Commission to find most suitable answers. In this
process maritime transport, ports and their hinterland connections
as well as airports must play a key role in supplementing the
multimodal land-based networks.
On June 8-9th Zaragoza will host TEN-T Days 2010:
Trans-European Transport Networks "Drawing up the EU Core network
for an integrated, efficient and environmentally friendly European
transport system". The TEN-T Policy Review is the main topic of the
conference and it will be an excellent opportunity to exchange
opinion with the EU policy makers and to highlight the possibility
to use results of SEETAC project.
Nenad Nikolic
SEETO Transport Planning Manager
[1] http://ec.europa.eu/transport/infrastructure/tent_policy_review/...