Nicosia, 06/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - A thousand or so amendments have already been submitted by MEPs to amend the Commission's proposal on the future trans-European transport network (TEN-T) and its maps. This is the result of a large number of amendments linked to regional interests, but a fair number of MEPs took offence at the situation during the second parliamentary committee discussion on the future of the TEN-T on Tuesday 6 November.
The chair of the transport committee (TRAN) at the European Parliament, Brian Simpson (S&D, United Kingdom), was surprised: “We agreed not to establish a long list of Christmas presents, but frankly there are more than 1,000 amendments! We cannot respond to all expectations!” The co-rapporteur, Ismail Ertug (S&D, Germany) said the same thing: “The general objective of coherent European transport must be respected. If this is not the case and if it's indeed about a Christmas list, then it's pointless discussing it!” He promises that he and his co-rapporteur, Georgios Koumoutsakos (EPP, Greece), “will only take account of amendments that take account of European and not regional objectives”. Spanish MEPs did not hide that they chose to submit amendments not according to their political group but according to their nationality. They justify this by the fact that Spain is an outlying country and not a central one with a number of borders. Nevertheless Ertug asked all his colleagues “to keep a European transport network in mind which is there to help us, to have trans-European connections, to respect the environment, to reduce bottlenecks. We will manage to find a good compromise if we respect these objectives.”
The amendments brought by the MEPs also aim to strengthen the role of corridor coordinators, as well as reference to local authorities.
Transport by inland waterway is also attracting a great deal of attention from MEPs in the TRAN committee - with many of them wanting greater place given to the Danube, the longest river in Europe. However, Amendment 44 is troublesome, as Dominique Riquet (EPP, France) sums up with concern: “We cannot impose environmental criteria on waterways that we don't impose on other means of transport”, even when inland navigation is one of the most environmentally friendly means of transport (our translation throughout). Ertug promises that a compromise is well on track to strengthen transport by inland waterway, while preserving the environment. (MD/transl.fl)