TEN-T Days, Rïga, 2015: The 2030 vision begins

By Colin Moors in Riga

The debate is over and the next phase of the TEN-T programme has been officially agreed and passed into EU legislation. The agreement in April this year provided a basis and was signed by all EU heads of state, the final agreement means that routes and maps have been defined. This puts an end to speculation about the nature of the finer points. Plans to upgrade and harmonize the EU-wide transport infrastructure to provide rapid-transport ‘corridors’ will stretch from now until 2030 and beyond. There should no longer be a situation in which one country strives to meet the operational requirements while another drags it heels – the EU now has the power of the courts behind it in order to make things happen.

The TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) meeting in Rïga on 22 June brought together commissioners, delegates from 12 member states and over 1,000 stakeholders for what is possibly the most important meeting in its history. TEN-T is an initiative to improve the transport links across Europe with the enhancement of the nine existing transport corridors, arterial routes designed to allow the free flow of goods between all European member states - and further still, following today’s announcement that the move to extend into several Western Balkan states, signed last year, will play an important part in the overall plan. Commissioner Bulc stated that it would be in the interest of the whole of Europe to extend the TEN-T into Serbia, FYROM, Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro. With this agreement in place, the countries’ candidature for EU membership would be strengthened yet further, given that the transport infrastructure would already be harmonized. A small step but an important part of the process and a guarantee of the free movement of goods, augmenting the existing network.

This final agreement is by no means the end of the story. The EU is facing opposition by concerned citizens about the short- to medium-term environmental impact of some projects. Many of these protests, while valid, tend to lack viable alternatives. The EU is now in the position of having to negotiate several cases on an individual basis, trying to bridge the gap between policy and populace, while upholding the overall ‘green’ credentials of TEN-T.

TEN-T is not only designed to streamline intra-European transport but to reduce its overall environmental impact. Naturally, you can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs and in this case, the eggs are sites of geographical, environmental or public importance. This is not simply nimby-ism and the EU has stated that the complaints from ‘professional’ protesters is quite low, giving credence to the fact that complaints are being raised by sincere, concerned citizens.

While the focus for the next phase will be on reducing the reliance on road transport, the haulage industry seems unperturbed, as the need for lorry transport is still very much a reality. Ports and railways may be the primary targets for upgrading and enhancement, and the haulage industry may have been seen to have been 'demonized' by such a focus. It is foreseen that improved and new sea routes, bridges and rail networks will streamline the flow of goods and services but road transport is still very much an essential part of the mix.

Delivery of the goals announced in Riga will mean an investment of €11.9 billion in funds and is expected to realize a net GDP growth of 1.8% by 2030.

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