1. MISSING LINKS INFORMATION SESSION CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY CALL FOR CROSS-BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ON COMPREHENSIVE AND ON CORE NETWORKS Brussels, 29th November 2016

2. AEBR
The AEBR works on behalf of the European border and cross-border regions with the aim to:
Highlight their problems and opportunities
Represent their common interests vis-à-vis national and international institutions
Initiate, support and coordinate cooperation between the regions throughout Europe
Promote exchanges of experience and information to coordinate common interests and possible solutions

3. Framework: TEN-T
- A TEN-T policy should provide the infrastructure to ensure the access to the transport networks + support economic, social and territorial cohesion.
- Beyond the common objectives of the transport policy (support of economic, ecologic efficient and reliable transport services) it should ensure that:
these services are as efficient as possible
based on an integrated, innovative infrastructure
good connections to neighbouring countries
Master plan to link with strategies in MMEE

4. Missing links AEBR Assessment
There are still major gaps in small-scale infrastructures linking border and CB regions to TEN-T Network, particularly in Central, Eastern and SE Europe, and at the EU external borders
EU international connections cannot turn border and CB regions into mere transit zones
They should be linked to national and regional networks
They shoud eliminate bottlenecks and comprise multi-modal CB transport infrastructure

5. Main issues and proposed solutions
CB Connections should be considered priority sections in TEN-T: CB infrastructures have more European value
Secondary infrastructures are also needed to facilitate local and regional connection and mobility
Additional funding should be provided (Connecting Europe Facility)
Filling in disfunctional gaps with a territorial approach will be an enormous step to develop non central regions
Funds should be bound to European and sub-national levels (specific needs of the regional and local levels)

6. Panorama de la CTF en Europa
Conclusions
When small infrastructures are missing at the border, there is also a lack of pre-conditions for future CB development and integration.
Appropriate specifications to ensure that regional/local level can propose and apply: there is a huge lack of knowledge at these leves about the Connecting Europe Facility.
No parallel structures should be created to enable small-scale infrastructures.
AEBR-AGEG-ARFE

7. AEBR
Thank you very much
for your attention!