Directorate-general for Energy and Transport European Commission June rd Expert Group Meeting Transport Euro-Asian Linkages Sanna Kuukka

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport2 High Level Group II - Background l Revised TEN-T Guidelines were adopted in April 2004 including a list of 30 priority axes and projects covering the territory of the EU27. l Good links between the EU and the neighbouring countries are important to enhance trade, economic development and sustainability. l Since the 1990s, cooperation exists in the context of Pan-European Corridors and Areas, MEDA programme, Traceca corridor linking Europe to Caucasus and Central Asia. l A ministerial meeting on “Transport for Wider Europe” in Santiago de Compostela in June discussed the connections between the enlarged EU and the neighbouring countries and launched the idea of a High Level Group.

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport3

4 High Level Group - Members l 25 neighbouring countries and regions: u Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya (as observer), Morocco, Moldova, Norway, Palestinian Authority, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo (under UNMIK administration), Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. l Representatives of EU25 and Bulgaria and Romania l International financing institutions u European Investment Bank (EIB) u European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) u World Bank (WB)

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport5 High Level Group - Objectives l Proposals to the Commission on: u A limited number of priority axes connecting the Union with its neighbours with a focus on international exchanges and freight movements (5-7) u A short list of priority projects on these axes, including motorways of the sea u How to improve the efficiency of the current transport networks through horizontal measures, e.g. interoperability, border-crossings, safety & security u How to finance the proposed projects and measures

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport6 High Level Group - Identification of major axes and priority projects l Identification of major transport axes connecting the EU with the neighbouring countries or broader regions. This step should offer a tool to select some 5-7 major axes that are most used and pertinent to international exchanges and traffic and also strengthen long term regional integration and cohesion. l Identification of priority projects on these major axes that are feasible and demonstrate the best value for money in terms of their economic, social and environmental impacts. A highly selective approach is again important to ensure that limited resources are put to best use.

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport7 Criteria for identifying major axes “Pan-European interest” l Institutional dimension u links to one of the 30 major TEN axes and projects to the neighbouring countries and broader regions u Takes into account international agreements and other joint decision and actions (Black Sea PETrA and TRACECA) l Functional dimension u the amount of long-distance international traffic now and a forecast for 2020 u the volume of transit traffic u alternative which shorter, environmentally friendlier and safer than the established route

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport8 Criteria for selecting priority projects l First stage – pre-selection u priority transnational axes u sufficient size and significance (0.15% of GDP) u firm commitment (works before 2010 and completion by 2020) l Second stage – evaluation u improving economic efficiency u enhancing environmental sustainable of transport system u improving transport safety and security

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport9 Horizontal priorities – state of play l Motorways of the Sea and Intermodality l Maritime Safety l Road safety, weights and dimensions l Rail interoperability l Air Traffic Management l Inland waterways l Satellite navigation l Border crossing procedures, incl. customs l Security l Financing l Coordination modalities

Directorate-general for Energy and Transport10 Timetable l Meeting schedule in 2005 u January – regional u February – regional u 7 March – plenary u May – plenary u July – plenary Recommendations on outstanding horizontal priorities Identification of priority projects u September – plenary & regional Outstanding issues, horizontal and projects Draft report u October l Final report - autumn 2005 l Communication from the Commission end 2005 or early 2006