Transport Policy

EU transport policy strives to achieve greater coordination between national transport policies; more competition between transport suppliers; an integrated approach to infrastructure development and firm constraints on state aids to national operators. It also seeks to enhance the safety, efficiency and environmental compatibility of transport in order to achieve sustainable mobility.

In order to exploit the full potential of the Single Market, Trans-European networks (TENs) (which include energy, telecommunications and the environment as well as transport) are being established to transform 15 individual networks into a single network on a European dimension.

• Priority projects: In 1994 it was agreed to support 14 priority transport projects across the EU to build new and upgrade current transport networks.
• Funding: Huge investment is needed. There are various sources of funding for TEN projects. The European Investment Bank provides low interest loans for large TENs projects while loan guarantees are available from the European Investment Fund. Investment is also available through Public/Private financing and development Partnerships (PPPs). Structural Funds: the European Regional Development Fund for the least favoured regions, the Cohesion Funds and Community initiatives such as INTERREG (for cross border cooperation) are also available.

Liberalisation of transport networks has brought substantial consumer benefits in terms of choice and price. Companies are free to operate services in other Member States.

The energy consumption of the transport sector makes up 30% of the total final energy consumption of the EU. Road transport is responsible for 84% of this and contributes over three quarters of the total carbon dioxide output. More environmentally friendly alternatives such as high-speed trains, inland waterways and new technologies for traffic management are being found. In response both to customer demand and EU legislation, automobile manufacturers are making progress in reducing emissions.

The information society is transforming travel and transport. In the last 5 years, it is estimated that Euro 900 million from the EU budget was invested more than in transport related research and technical developments. Programmes focus on applying new digital technologies to road, rail, air and sea traffic management to make travel safer, easier and less environmentally polluting.

The Agenda 2000 proposals treat the construction and modernisation of transport networks of common interest in applicant countries as one of the central challenges to the accession process. All applicant countries are involved in TEN discussions to establish a coherent transport network for an extended EU.