Audible response

Consultation response ahead of Council meeting on TEN-T grants

EU cuts economy but not expectations for infrastructure development The Commission proposes to establish a new infrastructure facility called the Connecting Europe Facility, which will finance infrastructure in the transport sector, among others, in the period 2014-20. The purpose of the proposal is to promote the European growth agenda, including competitiveness, economic, social and territorial cohesion in the internal market. The Commission's proposal was put out for consultation back in November 2011. Negotiations between the Council and the Commission have changed the original proposal from the Commission. This gives rise to comments ahead of the Council meeting. Negotiations between the Commission and the Council have cut EUR 10 billion from the Commission's first proposal. EUR 23 billion is still available for transport infrastructure. This is a step forward compared to the EUR 8 billion available under the current framework. However, adjustments will need to be made to the TEN-T network and the expected deadlines for the expansion and coherence of the entire network. The Commission itself has estimated a need for infrastructure investments of EUR 500 billion. More than optimistic words and good intentions should be put behind the development and implementation of an efficient, sustainable and inclusive European transport infrastructure as one of the most important drivers for ensuring economic growth in the EU. Read the Danish Ports' consultation response Read the Ministry of Transport's framework note