Brussels, 06/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Members of the parliamentary committee on transport (TRAN) put questions to the Commission about implementation decisions in respect of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). Their questions related to “motorways of the sea” and to the interoperability of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
Use it or loose it. Jean-Eric Paquet, Director European Mobility Network at DG Move, was at the TRAN committee on Monday 6 February to set out what is underway or foreseen for the funding of transport projects. He announced that, further to mid-term review and the European “use it or loose it” policy, there would still be enough European money available for the TEN-T mid-2012. Calls for proposals for projects are to be launched during the year.
Motorways of the sea. As far as motorways of the sea are concerned, Paquet did not conceal the fact that only 7 projects were in line with the strict Commission criteria and that, to date, only €50 million for this mode of transport has been used, out of the €70 million available. Contrary to fears expressed by MEPs, however, it is out of the question for the unused funds to be reallocated to rail transport (and more especially to the ERTMS). The funds will therefore return to Community coffers and the motorways of the sea will be the subject of another call for tenders, Paquet said. Gésine Meissner (ALDE, Germany) also pointed out that member states should be more aware of the motorways of the sea so that there are more mature projects tendering for European funding.
ERTMS. Jean-Eric Paquet explained, on the subject of ERTMS, that a third call for project proposals had been made in 2011 to support deployment at European level and that, given delays in member states, other calls for proposals should be launched in the future, although the last call had financed 15 projects by way of €200 million. After this announcement, many MEPs pointed at the recurrent problems that ERTMS is faced with due to the lack of compatibility between the different systems that exist on the European rail network. Michael Kramer (Greens/EFA, Germany) was highly critical of the situation and takes the view that, as things stand, one should no longer finance the ERTMS. He asked when industry would follow suit and whether there would be effective European controls for verifying compatibility. Paquet takes the view that the problem lies with national security authorities that recommend national solutions in addition to ERTMS specifications. (MD/transl.jl)