04/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - The commissioner-designate for transport, Siim Kallas of Estonia, plans to maintain Community funding in the transport sector, especially for infrastructure projects. In written responses to the European Parliament's questionnaire with a view to his public hearing on 14 January, Mr Kallas considers it a priority to look at the effect that the economic crisis is having on the transport sector. He also places emphasis on “decarbonising” the transport sector. In his view, this should combine development of infrastructure, technology and the fixing of fares (the gradual introduction of tariffs for all modes of transport to cover external costs). The future transport commissioner has two major events ahead - the review of guidelines governing the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), during which Mr Kallas plans to identify the key European transport network likely to benefit from Community funding, and the adoption of a new White Paper on European transport policy. (A.By./transl.jl)