Brussels, 21/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 November, the European Commission presented the multi-annual funding programme (2007-2013) for the trans-European transport network (TETNs) projects, and the projects selected under the funding programme for 2007.
Of the €122.6 million earmarked for the priority projects in 2007, 44% will go on projects involving rail, with the emphasis on cross-border sections, where the member states are most likely to neglect the work, explained Jacques Barrot, the transport commissioner. The Community contribution rate will be 30% (the maximum provided for under the regulation) for cross-border sections in the field of navigable waterways, 27% for the two major trans-Alpine tunnels (Mont Cenis and Brenner), 22% for the “Rail Baltica” Railway axis which will link Poland and Finland. Projects designed to remove bottlenecks will be co-funded to the tune of 20%. Lastly, a co-funding rate of 50% (the maximum rate provided for in the regulation) will go for all studies. The Commission has also granted 190 million for the feasibility study of the Galileo programme. The sum total granted to all priority projects for the years 2007-2013 stands at €5.1 billion (74.2% of which will go on railway projects and 11.5% on canals). When the TEN funding committee has given its agreement (it is due to meet on 28 and 29 November), the European Parliament will exercise its right of scrutiny. The Commission should be in a position to adopt its final decisions on the funding of the project early next year. (A.By.)