EUR 200 Million More for Expansion of European Infrastructure
The development and expansion of a trans-European transportation network (TEN-V) is being subsidised with co-financing by the European Union. EUR 200 million is available this year for 74 projects selected by the EU Commission. Roads, waterways, rail links, airports and seaports are eligible in principle.
Siim Kallas, Transport Commissioner and Vice President of the EU Commission, explains the objectives of promoting TEN-V: "The European Commission continues to subsidise the construction and expansion of the European transport infrastructure in order to ensure that citizens can reap the benefits of an integrated, safe and modern network. Furthermore, the amount of nearly EUR 200 million made available today will help boost employment in the EU since it allows the member states to continue investing in major and minor infrastructure projects during times of general economic stagnation."
Projects that serve the development of an integrated, multi-modal transport system enjoy the highest priority in the annual selection process. The projects currently subsidised range from transport market studies for the Bremerhaven/Rotterdam/Antwerp – Aachen/Berlin – Warsaw – Terespol (at the Polish-Belarus border)/Kaunas freight corridor to working on reducing air pollution through sea transport. Nearly EUR 6 million of public funds has been allocated by the EU for the development of innovative financing instruments in the infrastructure sector. The TEN-V executive agency in cooperation with subsidy recipients is responsible for project administration.