Brussels, 10/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - More than half the infrastructure projects selected for European funding as part of the annual trans-European transport network (TEN-T) programme call for 2011 aim to help speed up and facilitate implementation of other TEN-T projects. Forty-four projects are involved, out of the 74 receiving the €200 million funding. European funding will be used to build and modernise infrastructure as a means to improve transport links in Europe.
Added value for users. Although the European Commission is providing this funding, the aim is to support the construction and upgrade of European transport infrastructure, “to ensure its citizens can reap the benefits of a complete, safe and modern network” explained the European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas, in a press release. The €198.63 million in total EU funding, “will also help to support employment in the EU by allowing member states to continue investing in large and small infrastructure projects during a time of general economic stagnation”. Out of 144 projects proposed, only 74 were selected by the Commission and the TEN-T executive agency. A dozen of them are international projects involving several member states.
Boost. The projects selected mainly aim to facilitate and speed up implementation of TEN-T projects. The TEN-T projects get most of the funding; 44 of them were selected, obtaining a total of €146.63 million (as opposed to the €100 million budget initially planned). This will involve, for example, carrying out studies and starting projects that are due to be completed in 2014. The amount of funding allocated in this annual call will therefore make up funding shortfalls.
Four other priorities. Nonetheless, certain other action areas are also eligible for European funding planned in 2011, as part of the TEN-T project. €26 million has been allocated for ten or so integrated and multimodal transport projects. Eight projects will also share around €14 million for environmental projects (climate change adaptation and transport impact reduction). The long-term completion of the TEN-T corridors has already received funding of €7.32 million for six different projects. Finally, funding for transport infrastructure through public-private partnerships will also receive a €5.63 million boost.
Madrid tops lot. Spain gets the lion's share, with 14 projects selected, including projects involving several different countries and which will be worth in excess of €30 million. Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden follow on from Spain, with ten projects funded for each country, within a funding band of between €23-27 million. (MD/trans.fl)