The European Commission’s announcements on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the post-Covid-19 recovery plan (see EUROPE 12494/1) were not convincing to MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN).
Meeting on Monday 8 June, in the presence of representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), MEPs expressed many questions and expectations on this subject.
Most insisted on estimates of the exact amount of funds that are likely to be allocated to transportation. Without much success.
Several speeches thus concerned the sums that the Commission plans to grant to the EU-27 through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, based on national plans submitted by the Member States (see EUROPE 12495/12).
Good will of the States. It will therefore be up to national governments to make transport a priority, said Henrik Hololei, Director-General of DG MOVE. “Such a choice would both offer a green and digital transition for transport and have a lasting and positive impact on their productivity and resilience”, he said.
“How can you ensure that Member States will give priority to transport and infrastructure?” asked Swedish MEP Johan Danielsson, on behalf of the S&D, stressing that not making use of such a “historic fund” would be a “historic mistake”.
Mr Hololei merely agreed and confirmed that cooperation with the Member States should indeed be strengthened.
“Not enough”. He also pointed out that the envelope made available under the ReactEU initiative for cohesion and territories would be added to the Recovery and Resilience Facility instrument, although its distribution key has yet to be decided (see other news).
Nor was the Commission’s main proposal for the transport sector - a proposal contained in the revised draft MFF (see EUROPE 12494/1) - any more convincing.
It includes a €1.5 billion increase in funding for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and brings the ‘Transport’ segment of this programme’s budget to €12.8 billion over the next 7 years.
“I don't think this is a success”, lamented Marian Marinescu (EPP, Romania). Mr Hololei himself agreed that 1.5 billion is “not enough”.
Sustainable recovery. Finally, many speakers reminded the Commission that recovery should not come at the price of European objectives for intelligent and green mobility.
“It is your responsibility to push in this direction”, insisted Elena Kountoura (GUE/NGL, Greece).
“How can you ensure that these huge injections of cash will not fund unsustainable projects that go against the Green Deal?” asked Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, Ireland). These questions were left unanswered. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)