Brussels, 07/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - In order to enhance integration and improve cooperation, the European Commission is seeking to strengthen transport links with accession applicant countries and the neighbouring countries to the east and south of the EU. A communication entitled “The EU and its neighbouring regions: A renewed approach to transport cooperation” was presented by Commissioners Siim Kallas (Transport) and Štefan Füle (Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy) on Thursday 7 July.
The action plan in this document comprises around 20 measures designed to improve the movement of passengers and goods with the 25 or so applicant and neighbourhood policy countries. In addition to improving transport, improving trade is also a priority, as Kallas noted: “Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and the Southern Caucasus are worth €25 billion annually to European exports. And these countries link us directly with Asia. To the South, the figures are even more remarkable: the chain of countries extending from Morocco to Lebanon already represents 10% of EU external trade”. The communication relates to all modes of transport and their infrastructure.
In aviation, neighbouring states could become part of the European common air space (which would then cover one billion people) and the Single European Sky. The EU could also help neighbourhood policy countries modernise their air traffic control systems. With regard to navigation, the EU would like to promote social, environmental, security and safety norms among its neighbours as flag states and also the idea of motorways of the sea, and include these countries in the “Blue Belt” project on free maritime movement. In land transport, the aim is to make border crossing easier, to improve road safety, to make the use of the digital tachograph more widespread and to improve bus and coach connections with neighbouring countries. In terms of rail, the idea is especially to improve freight transport and to bring interoperability with the rail systems of these countries and encourage a European rail traffic management system (ERTMS). The communication speaks of the interconnection of infrastructure. Extension of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) is even up for consideration, with financial support for certain projects of regional and European interest. (Cor./transl.rt)