1 EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Visby Transport Workshop, 12 June 2009 Priority Area 11To Improve Internal and External Transport Links Main Actions Colin Wolfe European Commission DG Regional Policy, Territorial Cooperation

2 Main Challenges, main Opportunities Challenges : Long distances, often harsh conditions Considerable number of EU peripheral areas, islands Infrastructure shortfalls, esp. E and SE side Connections to Russia, Belarus Fragile ecosystem, maritime safety issues Opportunities : Many good existing links Potential of maritime transport, green corridors Gateway to Asia Visby Transport Workshop, 12 June 2009

3 Strategic Actions, Cooperative Actions Strategic : Coordinate national transport policies and infrastructure investments –Interoperability, co-modality, traffic management –Implement TEN-T on time, revise if necessary –Emphasise sufficiently the periphery, the islands Cooperative : Improve connections with Russia, Norway, Belarus Facilitate Baltic freight logistics Increase role of the sea itself Visby Transport Workshop, 12 June 2009

4 Flagship projects All TEN-T priority projects Implement Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport & Logistics Develop Baltic Motorways of the Sea network Implement shorter plane routes Promote green corridors, smarter transport Visby Transport Workshop, 12 June 2009

5 Thank you ! Visby Transport Workshop, 12 June 2009