TENs coordinators' mandates renewed

The European Commission has renewed the mandates of six coordinators for the Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) schemes until 2013. It has also appointed one new coordinator and is seeking replacements for two vacant posts.

The role of the TENs co-ordinators is to evaluate progress on TEN-T projects and make recommendations for their implementation. They were first appointed in July 2005 and are described as the Commission as "emminent persons."

Commenting on the renewed mandates, Commission vice-president Antonio Tajani said, "The European co-ordinators have become reference figures, in particular because of their international experitise and their independence. Thay have a very positive impoact on these cross-border projects."

The renewed mandates are for Lauens Jan Brinkhorst, focussing on ‘Project 6', the railway axis from Lyon, France to Hungary's border with the Ukraine, Pavel Telicka for Project 27 - the ‘Rail Baltica' axis from Warsaw, Poland to Helsinki, Finland, Karal Vinck for the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS) project, Karla Peijs for Projects 18 and 30 - two inland waterway schemes, and Luis Valente de Oliveria for Project 21, the ‘Motorways of the Sea'.

In addition, Carlo Secchi has been appointed as coordinator to Projects 3 and 19 - railway corridors in southwest Europe and Iberia.

The commission is also searching for replacements for Karel van Miert and Péter Balázs. Mr van Miert died in June after falling from a ladder at his home. His mandate was to facilitate the Berlin, Germany to Palermo, Italy rail link.

Péter Balázs was appointed Hungary's foreign minister in April. He previously oversaw for the Paris - Vienna - Bratislava rail link.