Brussels, 04/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has proposed to launch a new Marco Polo programme to support intermodal freight services, with a budget of EUR 115 million for 2003-2007. The long awaited proposal that was adopted on Monday will take over where the PACT combined transport programme left off (which ended in December 2001). During 2002, a EUR 2 million budget will allow pilot schemes to be funded.
In a press release, European Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio said, "We are proposing a very concrete and practical instrument for the transport and logistics industry to take on the remaining market challenges and shift more freight from congested road corridors to other, less congested modes". The aim is to shift 12 billion tonne/kilometres a year from road to short shipping, rail and inland waterways.
The programme will involve countries outside the EU, and will cover: 1) co-funding of new intermodal services, which will account for 30% of the original investment for a no more than 3 years; 2) maximum aid of 35% for "catalyst actions" to tackle existing structural market barriers through "the setting up of motorways of the sea or high-quality international rail freight services, managed through a one-stop shop", explains the Commission; and 3) common learning actions to share know-how and improve co-operation. Up to 50% of costs will be reimbursed.