What changed

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE procedure

An efficient and well-developed trans-European transport network is essential for the smooth functioning as well as for the strengthening of the single market. In fact, it is through this network that the Union ensures the free movement of people and goods within its territory.

Follow up to the European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 and Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) 1315/2013

To this end, it is necessary that the trans-European transport network overcomes its existing limits through targeted investments able to contribute to the improvement of the network in terms of accessibility, inclusiveness and sustainability. In particular, making infrastructures and services more accessible to users, including persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, is a necessary condition for the proper functioning of the network, through the elimination of remaining bottlenecks that still generate congestion and by ensuring fast and continuous connections.

1. Rapporteur: Barbara THALER (EPP / AT), Dominique RIQUET (Renew / FR)

Furthermore, to achieve the objectives set by this Regulation, it is necessary that free access to the networks is guaranteed in all Member States, as well as that sufficient funds are put in place to allow the construction and maintenance of infrastructures and to allow transport sector businesses to make long-term investment plans.

2. Reference numbers: 2021/0420 (COD) / A9-0147/2023 / P9_TA(2024)0317

It is also of great importance to ensure access to European transport corridors to small and medium-sized enterprises, which are often located in peripheral production centres or in more remote areas. In this regard, it will be essential to create synergies between the structural funds allocated for the construction of the trans-European transport network and national infrastructure investments made through other funds, including the national recovery and resilience plans.

3. Date of adoption of the resolution: 24 April 2024

Among the priorities, the involvement of the whole European business sector through intermodal connections will be crucial, as well as the involvement of local and regional authorities through a structured dialogue with the European coordinators.

4. Legal basis: Article 172 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

Finally, in the light of the recent dramatic events in Ukraine, the rapporteur considers that is it essential for the trans-European transport network to be adapted in order to allow the Union to strengthen its objectives also in terms of military and food security. It is therefore crucial to channel specific investments towards strategic infrastructure segments and to include strategic agri-food production centres within an efficient network.

5. Competent Parliamentary Committee: Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)

AMENDMENTS

6. Commission's position: accepts all amendments.

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4

Or. en

Justification

Improved accessibility to the trans-European transport network is crucial th achieve the objectives of this Regulation and to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market.

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5

Or. en

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 8 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

Active mode infrastructures, although not included in the trans-European transport network, should be considered when implementing construction works for new or old infrastructures that are part of the TEN-T.. In particular, special attention should be given to ensure that no eccessive disruptions and barriers are created to walking and cycling paths, essential for short-distance and sustainable active mobility modes.

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 10 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

Although the trans-European transport network focuses on major transportation routes, particular attentions should be given to avoid increasing the already existing infrastructural and digital gap between central and peripheral areas. These areas are often characterised by smaller productions centres, which need to be connected to major transport routes through synergies to be created between investments under this Regulation and other national investment plans.

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 10 b (new)

Or. en

Justification

Because SMEs are often located in smaller production centres that are not included in the TEN-T Regulation, special attention should be given to ensure that SMEs have easy access to the major transport routes of the trans-European transport network.

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 16

Or. en

Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17

Or. en

Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 18

Or. en

Amendment 9

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 21

Or. en

Amendment 10

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 24

Or. en

Justification

Freight terminals are elements of high strategic value for the good functioning of the internal market.

Amendment 11

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 26

Or. en

Justification

Interoperability on the network is of outmost importance, especially for the rail sector. Exemptions from the proposed infrastructure requirements shall only be allowed in duly justified cases. Sparsely populated areas should not constitute a valid reason for granting an exemption if these infrastructures are situated in areas that are crossed by traffic streams. Such exemptions should only be allowed in case they are ares of origin or destination, i.e. if these areas represent the start or the end of a corridor.

Amendment 12

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 26 a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 13

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 32

Or. en

Justification

In order to ensure synergies between the trans-European transport network and national transport networks, investments made to achieve the objectives of this Regulation should complement and be in line with other national infrastructure investments plans, including national recovery and resilience plans.

Amendment 14

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 34

Or. en

Amendment 15

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 35

Or. en

Justification

Projects of common interest should produce tangible benefits for businesses and users.

Amendment 16

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 36

Or. en

Justification

Improved accessibility to the trans-European transport network is crucial th achieve the objectives of this Regulation and to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market. Accessibility should therefore be taken into account since the first phases of infrastructure projects.

Amendment 17

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 38

Or. en

Amendment 18

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 39

Or. en

Justification

Strengthening sustainable connections between EU capitals and major cities is crucial to achieve the objectives of the Green Deal.

Amendment 19

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 39 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

In order to improve accessibility of rail services, and in accordance with the objectives of this Regulation, train ticket sales should be harmonised across the Union through the creation of a platform implemented at sectorial level, which provides users with all the necessary information and allows passengers to buy online tickets for their cross-border trips.

Amendment 20

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 40

Or. en

Justification

Multimodality should be strengthen across the network through effective combined transport solutions. To achieve this, investments should be plan to ensure that the upgrading of the network is done strategically and to achieve economic benefits.

Amendment 21

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 42

Or. en

Amendment 22

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 44 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

A fast deployment of ERTMS is necessary to achieve the objectives of this Regulation. In order to ensure an accelerated and effective deployment, sufficient financial resources should be made available.

Amendment 23

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 49

Or. en

Justification

Multimodal terminals are essential to achieve multimodality, therefore investments directed to them should be done according to their economic relevance for businesses and SMEs.

Amendment 24

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 49 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

To ensure synergies of investments and achieve the results set out in this Regulation, the costs bared by carriers and terminal owners for multimodal terminals should be considered.

Amendment 25

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 50

Or. en

Justification

Urban nodes are important mobility hubs where the availability of sufficient charging and alternative fuels infrastructure is essential.

Amendment 26

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 51 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

To ensure proper investments and achieve the objectives of this Regulation, indicators to assess the economic relevance of SUMP projects should be included.

Amendment 27

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 52

Or. en

Amendment 28

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 54

Or. en

Amendment 29

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 55

Or. en

Amendment 30

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 57

Or. en

Amendment 31

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 58

Or. en

Amendment 32

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 62

Or. en

Amendment 33

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 63

Or. en

Amendment 34

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 64

Or. en

Justification

To ensure that proper maintenance works are carried out by Member States on TEN-T infrastructures, the Commission should develop a strategy to avoid a shortage of investments throughout the life time of the main infrastructures of the trans-European transport network.

Amendment 35

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 67 a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 36

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 71

Or. en

Justification

In light of the security changes following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the trans-European network should be reinforced to ensure that infrastructures and segments that are strategical from a military perspective are sufficiently resilient.

Amendment 37

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 71 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

The current situation in Ukraine has shown how the Union needs to ensure food security and mainstream it across EU policies. The trans-European transport network should therefore contribute to the food security objectives of the Union through the enhancement of critical infrastructures and the inclusion of strategic centres of production.

Amendment 38

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 71 b (new)

Or. en

Justification

A southern Corridor is currently missing in the Regulation. The flow of good and peoples across the Mediterranean sea and among Southern EU countries should be reflected in the future to strengthening the functioning of the internal market.

Amendment 39

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 71 c (new)

Or. en

Justification

To allow transport businesses to plan investments according to the deadline set in this Regulation, continuity of financing programmes such as CEF should be ensured.

Amendment 40

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 72

Or. en

Justification

Co-funding and co-financing should be allowed to make sure the trans-European transport network is properly developed.

Amendment 41

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 73

Or. en

Justification

In order to ensure synergies between the trans-European transport network and national transport networks, investments made to achieve the objectives of this Regulation should complement and be in line with other national infrastructure investments plans, including the national recovery and resilience plans.

Amendment 42

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point o

Or. en

Amendment 43

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point p a (new)

Or. en

Justification

To reflect the addition of point 49a.

Amendment 44

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Or. en

Justification

The strengthening of the internal market should be at the core of the trans-European transport network development through the development of infrastructures that are, among others, more accessible and digitalised.

Amendment 45

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a – point ii

Or. en

Justification

There should be room left for possible technological developments. Moreover, grater use of railways should not be limited to high-speed, as other railway traffic needs such as urban or suburban ones should also be considered.

Amendment 46

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i

Or. en

Amendment 47

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 48

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c – point vii a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 49

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d – introductory part

Or. en

Amendment 50

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d – point ii a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 51

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d – point v a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 52

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

The unrestrained access to infrastructures should be at the core of Member States' actions and ensured as much as possible across all EU Member States.

Amendment 53

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b

Or. en

Amendment 54

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c

Or. en

Amendment 55

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 2

Or. en

Amendment 56

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 5

Or. en

Justification

According to this Regulation, it might be useful for some infrastructures to be managed by more than one Member State if they constitute Services of General Economic Interest.

Amendment 57

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point c

Or. en

Amendment 58

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 59

Proposal for a regulation

Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point c b (new)

Or. en

Amendment 60

Proposal for a regulation

Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point b

Or. en

Justification

The Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy sets ambitious targets in terms of high speed network: doubling high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and tripling it by 2050. High speed connections, with several exceptions, are mainly national connections (e.g. Köln-Frankfurt, Paris-Lyon, Milan-Naples, Madrid-Barcelona) and they are not sufficient to achieve the ambitious targets. Europe shall promote and support the completion of the national networks and their integration in an interoperable European network achieving the shift to sustainable modes of transport like rail.

Amendment 61

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part

Or. en

Amendment 62

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)

Or. en

Justification

In the development or maintenance of new infrastructures, special attention should be put so that no excessive barriers to active mobility infrastructures are created.

Amendment 63

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b

Or. en

Amendment 64

Proposal for a regulation

Article 16 – paragraph 5 – point b

Or. en

Amendment 65

Proposal for a regulation

Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 66

Proposal for a regulation

Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 67

Proposal for a regulation

Article 29 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 68

Proposal for a regulation

Article 31 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 69

Proposal for a regulation

Article 34 – paragraph 1 – point d

Or. en

Amendment 70

Proposal for a regulation

Article 45 – paragraph 1

Or. en

Amendment 71

Proposal for a regulation

Article 45 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 72

Proposal for a regulation

Article 52 – paragraph 4

Or. en

Amendment 73

Proposal for a regulation

Article 56 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

Or. en

Amendment 74

Proposal for a regulation

Article 56 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 75

Proposal for a regulation

Article 61 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 76

Proposal for a regulation

Annex V – point 1

Or. en

Amendment 77

Proposal for a regulation

Annex V – point 3

Or. en

Amendment 78

Proposal for a regulation

Annex V – point 6

Or. en