Siim KALLAS, Vice-President of the EC for Transport, presents his mid-term review on TEN-T infrastructure to MEPs in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

exchange of views

MEISSNER, Gesine (ALDE, DE)

Transeuropean Transport Networks (T)

KALLAS, Siim (EE, EC)

EL KHADRAOUI, Saïd (S&D, BE)

Presentation of mid-term review TEN-T: extracts from the exchange of views with Siim KALLAS, Vice-President of the EC for Transport

SOUNDBITE (English), Siim KALLAS, European Commissioner for Transports, As you will have understood already from some of the coordinators we are facing a somewhat ambiguous situation. On the one hand the member states are pursuing their efforts in realizing the trans-European network for transport despite the economic budgetary difficulties they face. Some projects are running late due to a lack of resources. The implementation is slowed down. New major projects encounter difficulties to be launched as many such projects imply major investments.

SOUNDBITE (English), Siim KALLAS, European Commissioner for Transports, The report shows that the TEN-T budget is tightly managed but at the same time continued support is given to projects where needed. The alternative was between a large number of projects only delivering partly by original end in 2013 leaving 30% of the budget untouched and 40 of the 92 projects uncompleted or allowing them to continue far into the period of next financial framework to 2016, 17, 18 or even beyond. Obviously this is not a good way to manage the TEN-T budget. I therefore propose to strike a balance by allowing projects to continue for two further years.

SOUNDBITE (English), Siim KALLAS, European Commissioner for Transports, As you may recall, the second consultation paper was published in May this year and presented at the Saragossa conference. Nearly 250 contributions were received from member states all important sectoral organizations, regions, stakeholders and associations that represent more local or regional initiatives and projects. I would like to come again to present you the results of this consultation and also outline the methodology retained for the future TEN-T revision. This intermediate will be taken still this year as a necessary step before the revision of a new guide foreseen for spring 2011.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), S&#228;id EL KHADRAOUI (S&amp;D, BE), We have seen many many delays. This appears from the paper: 35% of the projects are not meeting the original timing. There are various reasons for this, of course. But we have to work on this, your choice your proposal to extend a number of projects with a 2 year deadline and to regroup the funds with have not been appropriated is a very good approach.

SOUNDBITE (German), Gesine MEISSNER (ALDE, DE), And now my questions that is related to what you&rsquo;ve said: You&rsquo;ve said, what is correct, for further financing you want to set binding political, technical and financial conditions to realize the project. Do you understand as political conditions also that you say that a country that does not have the money, but still gets something funding by us even if it can&rsquo;t we can&rsquo;t finance that prioritized projects with its own means?

SOUNDBITE (English), Siim KALLAS, European Commissioner for Transports, What is terrible is that these big projects, I have a list of information here have been tremendously increasing their costs. And that&rsquo;s now a very big dilemma, for all participants, first of all for member states that actually the problems start when construction starts. All papers are in order, all assessment, all necessary permissions are there, and then construction starts and then a lot of opposition appears.

SOUNDBITE (English), Siim KALLAS, European Commissioner for Transports, It&rsquo;s so far not so bad I must say. Lots of things have been done in TEN-T and the idea of having TEN-T, yes we can criticize and we would like to see this project to improve and to develop and have better connections between east and west and all other things, but it is an important project to develop internal market and single transport area and I am working, I am committed to work and develop this project. Thank you.