Brussels, 02/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - As planned, the European Commission has adopted its proposal defining the major priorities of the trans-European transport networks by 2004, for public and private funding totalling over EUR 66 billion. Adjusting the guidelines defined in Essen in 1994, this proposal of decision updates the list of priority projects by adding eight new projects (see the list published in yesterday's EUROPE, p.7). It increases the minimum rates of Community financing from 10% to 20% for certain rail projects that cross natural barriers, as well as for cross-border projects with future accession countries. Along the lines of the White Paper on Transport Policy presented recently, the draft decision concentrates investment on projects that will make it possible to reabsorb the bottlenecks and to fight against congestion. "Revision of the Community guidelines for the trans-European network proposed today aims, as a priority, to decongest the main routes and to eliminate bottlenecks that asphyxiate the trans-European network in many areas vital for the economy and for the smooth running of our society", said Loyola de Palacio, Transport Commissioner, in a press release. The Commission's proposals were presented to the Parliament's plenary session on Tuesday afternoon, and will be on the table of the Transport Council on 16 October, in Luxembourg.