Brussels, 05/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Speaking in a debate on sustainable road development and mobility, organised by the European Union Road Federation (ERF) at the European Parliament on 27 September, Mathieu Grosch (EPP, Belgium) called for additional funding for road transport. Grosch, who is the rapporteur on the European Commission communication on the sustainable future of transport (see EUROPE 9984), suggested that the EU devote 30% of Regional Funds to mobility and cities in order to reduce congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and noise. He also cast doubt on the current funding ratio for Trans-European Transport Network projects (TEN-T). He said that the present ratio (with 15% of funding coming from the EU and 85% from the member states) should be replaced with something more balanced, with member states providing 50% of the funding. Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Jean-Éric Paquet, Director for TEN-T and Smart Transport at DG Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), said that the revised TEN-T policy would take account of the differing transport needs of the older member states (EU15) and the 12 newer members. For the EU15, the main EU road network will interconnect all modes of transport within key economic nodes. For the EU12, the aim will be to provide much-needed infrastructure. (A.By./transl.rt)