Transport proposals sought

The European Commission called this week for proposals worth €350 million to finance European transport infrastructure (TEN-T), for projects in all EU Member States and for all types of transport.

These include air, rail, road, maritime and inland waterways.

The Commission vice president responsible for transport, Siim Kallas, said, “With the 2007 to 2013 budgetary period coming to an end, we will make the best possible use of these TEN-T Calls for Proposals to make sure European transport infrastructure supports a seamless mobility of goods and people throughout the European Union.

“I am confident that these calls will elicit great interest throughout the EU, as Member States realise the importance of investing today for tomorrow’s growth and jobs,” he said.

The TEN-T multi-annual programme traditionally finances the highest priorities of the TEN-T network. This year’s multi-annual calls, the last ones to be held under the 2007-2013 budget, focus on five fields, with €280 million of total indicative budget available.

The 30 TEN-T Priority Projects, with the exception of Motorways of the Sea (MoS) have an indicative budget of €50 million.

The MoS, which aim to provide viable alternatives for congested roads by shifting freight to sea routes, have an indicative budget €80 million.

European Rail Traffic Management Systems (ERTMS), to enable interoperability on the European rail network, have an indicative budget of €70 million.

Air Traffic Management (ATM) will implement the Single European Sky and ATM modernisation objectives with an indicative budget of €30 million.

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), promoting interoperability and continuity of real time traffic and travel information services across Europe towards a safer and more efficient road network have been set an indicative budget of €50 million.

The Commission said that the annual programme complemented the multi-annual one, and for 2013 directed funding to two distinct priorities with a total indicative budget of €70 million.

The first of these is the acceleration and facilitation of the implementation of TEN-T projects – studies and works for mature projects for all modes, as part of the projects of common interest. It has an indicative budget of €20 million.

The second covers measures to promote and develop innovative solutions and new technologies in areas such as alternative fuels infrastructure, sustainability of urban mobility, traffic efficiency, decarbonisation, noise reduction and safety – vehicle-infrastructure communication systems. The indicative budget is €50 million.

The TEN-T Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) manages the technical and financial implementation of the TEN-T programme, under the auspices of the Directorate-General for Mobility & Transport.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is 11 March, 2014.