Brussels, 28/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - By March 2005, the European Commission may decide to appoint European Coordinators with responsibility for the implementation of some of the 30 priority projects selected to extend the trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). It may also decide to unveil a series of measures, including finance, to speed up the building of TEN-T. Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot may travel to Mount Brenner (one of the 30 selected priority projects) by April.
As set out in the decision on the EU guidelines for the development of the TEN-T, adopted in April 2004, the Commission will soon be appointing Coordinators for facilitating the implementation of the stretch between Lyons and Turin on the rail link between Lyons and Budapest; of the Brenner Tunnel on the rail link between Berlin and Palermo; of Rail Baltica, the high-speed train link between Paris and Mannheim; and the stretch between Vitoria and Bordeaux on the high-speed South-West Europe rail link. To try to drum up financial support from the private sector, required to carry out these 30 priority TEN-T projects, the Commission is also believed to be considering developing a guarantee instrument to cover various project risks. It is also believed to be considering establishing an executive agency to coordinate the various European budget and financial instruments earmarked for TEN-T and develop technical and financial assessment and monitoring methods for the projects.
Jacques Barrot wants greater interoperability on European rail corridors
Stressing the importance of interoperability on European rail networks and the need, in this connection, to develop the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), Jacques Barrot announced on Wednesday evening at the annual reception of the CER (Community of European Railways) that he was shortly planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the rail industry to set out who was responsible for what in this field. The MoU is currently undergoing consultation at the Commission. It was drawn up by the CER, the UNIFE (Union of European Railway Industries), UIC (International Union of Railways) and the EIM (European Rail Infrastructure Managers). Barrot explained that he was planning to designate in the course of 2005 a European Coordinator for ERTMS on the TEN-T big rail networks. According to Belga press agency, the job may go to Karel Vinck, who has to leave his post as deputy manager at the Belgian railway company SNCB (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belge) by the end of the month.