TEN-T - Trans-European Transport Network
Developing transport infrastructure across Europe is a key factor for economic growth in general and at a time of economic crisis, offers strong opportunities for both job creation and economic boost, in the rail sector in particular. At the same time, EU action is vital to help and boost the coordination of different projects that in many cases are traditionally driven by national interests.
In this regards, the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy has played a crucial role by providing funding for international rail projects in the past years, and is viewed by UNIFE a major European policy, despite its limited financial resources.
As a response to the European Commission’s Green Paper on the future of the TEN-T Policy issued by the European Commission in 2009, UNIFE believes that the TEN-T funding should be focused on a “priority network” limited in size:
The future priority network must give a clear priority to environmentally-friendly and safe transport modes such as rail; modal shift should be a clear objective of this network;
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It should consist in a limited list of interconnected key “mega-corridors” to focus investments on a realistic number of projects;
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The creation of a Very High Speed network within the priority network should be a major feature of the current TEN-T policy review;
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Lastly, full interoperability, and in particular the mandatory use of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) should be a key characteristic of this network.
To make the TEN-T Policy successful, UNIFE believes that the TEN-T budget should be significantly increased in the next financial perspectives. A true priority should also be given to rail transport in the EU’s Regional policy and the use of additional financial resources (revenues from ETS, Eurovignette, EIB loans or PPPs) should complement TEN-T funding.
UNIFE is committed to be strongly involved in the debate over the TEN-T policy reform that will last over the coming years.
For more information, please contact:
Emmanuel Brutin
Public Affairs Manager
Jérémie Pélerin
Corporate & Public Affairs Manager
UNIFE Links
To access UNIFE's position paper on the TEN-T policy review, please click here
External Links
To access the European Commission’s Infrastructure and TEN-T webpage, please click here
To access the website of the TEN-T Executive Agency, please click here
To access the list of TEN-T’s top 30 projects please click here
To access the European Commission’s Green Paper on TEN-T policy please click here
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