Annual report 2012/2013 - EBU

New Ten-TPolicyINLAND WATERWAYS – A VITAL PARTOF THE CORE NETWORKMoreover, whilst the transport budgetproposal looks ambitious at a first glance,aside for the Trans-European TransportNetworks (TEN-T) in the 2007-2013 period,The Seine-Nord Europe project is one ofwill replace the Canal de Saint-Quentinand the current Canal du Nord, increas-EBU, together with numerous European transport organisations, urged EUMember States and the European Parliament to safeguard the 32 billionEUR budget that has been allocated to EU transport infrastructure withinthe Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in the 2014-2020 budget. Achievinga complete and integrated resource-efficient and sustainable transportnetwork, covering and interconnecting all modes, Member States andRegions must be seen as essential investments to create growth and jobsin the European Union.it actually compensates important cutson the side of the regional funds. Thereare clear indications that transport fundsfrom the European Regional DevelopmentFund (ERDF), which represented 46.7 billionEUR for the 2007-2013 period, will begreatly reduced and, in some regions, evencompletely removed by the new ERDFregulation. In this context, the 32 billionan amount which Member States havefully taken up according to the latest Commissiondata. But at the same time, thesubstantial cut of the budget comparedto the initial 32 billion will seriously affectthe implementation of the transportinfrastructure plan the Commission hasbeen developing over the last three years,in close co-operation with Member Statesthe priorities listed on the actual TEN-Tlist. The 105-kilometre-long canal willconnect the Seine and Scheldt rivers andfacilitate the transport of goods throughinland waterways. When the new SeineNord connection is ready, it will allowlarge vessels to transport goods betweenthe Seine river (and the Paris area) and theports of Dunkerque, Antwerp, and Rot-ing maximum barge capacity from 650 to4400 tonnes.In the last year the French governmentannounced an assessment of all majorinfrastructure projects among which theSeine-Nord canal. Although the projecthas meanwhile been selected by theFrench government as a key project apartfrom the long list of other projects itsEUR (or around 3% of the total Multiannu-and stakeholders.terdam, or further into Europe. The canalfinancing needs to be guaranteed.The transport industry directly employsaround 10 million people in the EU andaccounts for about 5% of the GDP. Whenrelated industries (manufacturing,al Financial Framework) allocated to theTrans-European transport core infrastructurein 2014-2020 is a vital minimum andmust be guaranteed more than ever.In a first common reaction to thisresult, European transport organisationsexpressed their satisfaction thatthe transport infrastructure envelopeEBU called upon the responsible French Ministers to ask for anincrease of EU-co-financing as it considers this project of highadded value for the development of the European economy.servicing, maintenance, etc.) are included,Notwithstanding the budgetary con-has increased, compared to the currentthese figures can be doubled. Besides,straints all governments are facing at themulti-annual budget. It is considered atransport is one of the sectors in whichmoment, it is well known that transportmissed opportunity for European leadersEuropean companies are world leaders ininfrastructure investments pay off into cut a growth-stimulating sector. Ifinfrastructure, logistics, traffic manage-the long run.people and goods cannot move efficiently,ment systems and manufacturing oftransport equipment.The European transport industryFirst reaction of EuropeanTransport Sector to the EUbudget deal: a “yes, but...”growth and economic development areconstrained. Transport therefore deservesmore than a mere 2.4% share of the totalbudget.expressed its concerns that not enoughOn 8 February 2012 European leadersPending the agreement between thefunds will be available to cover invest-reached an agreement on the EU budgetEuropean Parliament and the Council EBUment needs. The 32 billion EUR, earmarkedfor the next seven years. With a cut of onepromotes a strong role for inland water-by the European Commission to the Corethird in the 32 billion EUR initially fore-ways within this concept.Network in the Connecting Europeseen for transport infrastructure projects,Facility only covers a small share oftransport does not appear to be consideredthe investment needs.a priority sector in the next budget.However, the resulting budget of 23 billionEUR is a significant step forward comparedto the 8 billion EUR that was setannual report 2012/20138 9