Transport infrastructure: Commission releases over €1.2 billion to fund key TEN-T projects

The European Commission has launched two Calls for Proposals under the 2012 Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) multi-annual and annual programmes, making €1.265 billion available to finance European transport infrastructure projects in all transport modes – air, rail, road, and maritime/inland waterways – plus logistics and intelligent transport systems, and all EU Member States.

Commission Vice President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said:  “In making this considerable amount of funding available, the Commission aims for a competitive relaunch of the European economy, to sustain and support growth. By directing this money to TEN-T infrastructure, we are also continuing to help the realisation of the entire TEN-T network – bringing a tangible benefit to all European businesses and citizens who will reap the rewards of a more efficient, sustainable and effective European transport system.”

The TEN-T multi-annual programme traditionally finances the highest priorities of the TEN-T network. This year’s multi-annual call focuses on six fields with €1.015 billion of total indicative budget available:

1. The 30 TEN-T Priority Projects: indicative budget €725 million
2. European Rail Traffic Management Systems (ERTMS), enabling interoperability on the European rail network: indicative budget €100 million
3. River Information Services (RIS), involving traffic management infrastructure on the inland waterway network: indicative budget €10 million
4. Air Traffic Management (ATM), implementing the Single European Sky and ATM modernisation objectives: indicative budget €50 million
5. Motorways of the Sea (MoS) providing viable alternatives for congested roads by shifting freight to sea routes: indicative budget €80 million
6. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), including the European Electronic Toll Service (EETS), promoting inter-modality and improvement of the safety and reliability of the network: indicative budget €50 million

The annual programme complements the multi-annual programme and directs funding to four distinct priorities with a total indicative budget of €250 million:

1. Acceleration/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): indicative budget €150 million
2. Measures to promote innovation and new technologies for transport infrastructure and facilities contributing to decarbonisation or the reduction of external costs in general: indicative budget €40 million
3. Support to Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and innovative financial instruments: indicative budget €25 million
4. Support to the long term implementation of the TEN-T, in particular corridors: indicative budget €35 million

The TEN-T Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) manages the technical and financial implementation of the TEN-T programme, under the auspices of Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. The TEN-T EA is holding an Info Day today 29 November 2012 in Brussels to help potential applicants better understand the call priorities, prepare their proposals and learn about the evaluation process.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is 28 February 2013.

For further information, please visit http://tentea.ec.europa.eu/  or e-mail: TENT-AGENCY@ec.europa.eu

Source: European Commission