A group of 45 transport stakeholders wrote a letter to the Ministers of the General Affairs Council and the Ministers of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council urging for a more European approach when it comes to funding mechanisms. “Especially in uncertain times, Europe cannot afford to go in the direction of less connectivity, less internal cohesion and less Europe”, the letter said.
The main issue is that the European Union (EU) is planning to shift towards a more member state-specific approach, which the industry fears might hinder the financing of more ‘international’ projects. “The transport sector is very concerned about the Commission’s plans to redirect a large majority of the European transport funding towards National Single Plans”, the letter stressed.
The letter was signed by 45 European transport organisations, including ESPO (which was among the first ones to sound the alarm) ERFA, UIRR, UNIFE, ETF, UIP and the Interregional Alliance for the Rhine-Alpine Corridor. The 45 signatories are highlighting the importance of an “EU budget that is more flexible and agile, yet requires a long-term strategic and stable investment planning with centralised coordination at European level.”
Consequently, the signatories are asking “the General Affairs and Finance Ministers of the Member States to give a strong signal towards the Commission in favour of preserving a solid dedicated European transport funding instrument”. For example, the future of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), one of the main funding mechanisms for rail infrastructure in Europe, remains uncertain.
Cross-border projects might be in danger
The ‘death’ of CEF could have a negative impact on projects crossing borders, as member states might decide to invest in initiatives of national importance rather than international ones. The signatories are thus urging “Member States and the Commission to choose for an approach that strengthens Europe, to preserve a strong and centrally coordinated dedicated European transport funding instrument that prioritises investments of high European added value, and to refrain from jeopardising the future and competitiveness of Europe’s transport network.”