Brussels, 23/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Transport Ministers adopted, on 22 March, without debate, a common position with a view to adopting the regulation that determines the general rules for granting Community financial support in the field of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) and Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E).
The common position, which confirms the political agreement reached by the Finnish Presidency on 11 December (see EUROPE 9326), provides for variable rates of Community co-funding. For studies, this amounts to 50% for whatever project of general interest is concerned. For work (purchase, provision and establishment of material, systems, services, etc.) in the context of one of the priority projects in the transport field, the rate of co-funding varies between 10-30% depending on the type of project, with maximum aid being granted for work in cross-border sections. Only the European rail traffic management system (ERTMS) has a rate of aid of up to 50%, while the funding of road, air, maritime, coastal and inland navigation traffic management systems reach 20%. The document also lists the kind of projects to which “special attention” must be paid (see EUROPE 9322). It invites the Commission to present a general report on the mechanisms foreseen by the regulation to the Parliament and Council by the end of 2010.
The common position also comprises an annex fixing the contribution from the EU general budget to the new loan guarantee instruments (which consists of a guarantee from the European Investment Bank -EIB - whereby a reserve treasury facility is granted to an eligible project), i.e. €500 million for the years 2007-2013 (or 6.25% of the total budget for TEN-T for the same period) for the project relating to TEN-T made available by the EIB. Contributions to the new instrument should be broken down as follows: €10 million for 2007, €35 million for 2008, €60 million for 2009, €80 million for 2010, €105 million for 2011, €110 million for 2012 and €100 million for 2013.
The common position will now be forwarded to the European Parliament for approval in second reading. (aby)