Brussels, 27/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - At the beginning of this year, the Trans-European Network for Transport's Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) underwent transformation to become the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA). The newly vamped organisation will have a number of new responsibilities.
Since 2006, the agency has focused on the management of EU co-funded transport infrastructure projects. It will now carry out a number of tasks in the energy, telecommunications and research fields. From 1 January this year, INEA will oversee projects that are eligible for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility, such as Trans-European Network for Transport, energy and telecommunications projects that receive funding worth up to €30 billion for the 2014-2020 period, as well as those covered by Horizon 2020, the European research strategy worth €7 billion. The agency will supervise implementation of all projects receiving European subsidies, whilst providing technical support to project beneficiaries and reporting back to the European Commission. In an effort to ensure that the organisation is able to meet its new responsibilities, the hundred or so staff will gradually be increased. (See also interview with Executive Director Dirk Beckers, EUROPE 10948). (MD/transl.fl)