Regulation 2007/680 - General rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of the trans-European transport and energy networks - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 162/1

The European Council of 15 and 16 March 2002 held in Barcelona underlined in its conclusions that strong and integrated energy and transport networks are the cornerstone of the European internal market and that better use of the existing networks and the completion of missing links will make it possible to increase effectiveness and competitiveness and to guarantee an appropriate level of quality and a reduction in saturation points and, therefore, better long-term viability. These needs fall within the framework of the strategy adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000 held in Lisbon, which has been regularly referred to since then.

The European Council of 12 and 13 December 2003 held in Brussels approved European action for growth, calling on the Commission to redirect expenditure, if necessary, towards investments in physical capital, in particular investments in the infrastructure of the trans-European networks, the priority projects of which represent essential elements to strengthen the cohesion of the internal market.

Delays in the completion of effective trans-European connections, in particular cross-border sections, are likely to seriously handicap the competitiveness of the Union, the Member States and peripheral regions which would not, or would no longer, be able to profit fully from the beneficial effects of the internal market.

In Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (3), the cost of completing the trans-European transport network between 2007 and 2020 was estimated at EUR 600 billion. The investments necessary for the priority projects within the meaning of Annex III to that Decision alone account for almost EUR 160 billion for the period 2007 to 2013.

To achieve these goals, both the European Parliament and the Council have put forward the need to strengthen and adapt existing financial instruments through an increase in the level of Community co-financing by providing for the possibility of applying a higher Community co-financing rate, in particular for projects characterised by their cross-border nature, their transit function, or by the crossing of natural barriers.

In accordance with the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the ‘promotion of inland waterway transport “NAIADES”’ and having regard to the sustainable nature of inland waterways, inland waterways projects should receive special attention.

In its Resolution of 8 June 2005 on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007 to 2013 (4), the European Parliament underlined the strategic importance of transport networks for the completion of the internal market and for closer relations with candidate, pre-candidate and ‘ring of friends’ countries. Moreover, it also expressed its willingness to examine innovative financing instruments such as loan guarantees,...