Brussels, 07/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission adopted a communication framing its development cooperation policy in the transport sector. The aim of this sector-specific strategy is to promote, in EU partner countries and in countries benefiting from its aid, a sustainable approach to transport, that is, "viable not only on the economic and financial level but also from the institutional point of view, which is environment-friendly and takes into account the interests of the community". In this sense, the strategy presented by Commissioner Poul Nielson draws lessons from the past by, for example, avoiding projects guided by supply, which created "disproportionately dimensioned transport systems". The Commission also insists on economic profitability and privatisation as well as safety and the environment.
The guidelines defined by the Commission place emphasis on: 1) at economic level: the balance of public spending, fair competition, and fair prices; 2) at financial level: the increased participation of the private sector in the fields of rail, maritime ports and inland ports and airports as well as on the maintenance of the road infrastructure; 3) at institutional level: autonomy in the management of railways, ports and airports, in order to allow them to "commercialise if not privatise certain of their activities". The Commission also foresees measures for the prevention of environmental risks and the promotion of non-motorised transport.
This strategy concerns all third countries with which the Commission sets up development projects: ACP, Mediterranean, Asia, Latin America, New Independent States (of the former USSR). To date, 40% of the development aid used for transport projects was intended for the African-Caribbean-Pacific countries. According to Commission data, over EUR 6.6 billion have been spent since 1975 for transport projects in the ACP countries, mainly for road projects. The New Independent States received aid amounting to EUR 121,3000, i.e. a little less than half for the development of airports. Transport represents, on the other hand, a secondary part of the aid to Asia and Latin America, other than projects set up recently in the maritime and air safety sectors.