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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2021)0812 – C90472/2021 – 2021/0420(COD))

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

REGI-PA-736359

Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Alessandro Panza

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The Committee on Regional Development's draft opinion responds to the Commission's proposed regulation on Union guidelines for developing the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). It calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism to take into account 41 amendments. The amendments add references to regional and local authorities, outermost, rural, insular, mountainous and sparsely populated regions, and transit countries throughout the proposal's recitals and articles. They require Member States to cooperate with regional and local authorities on risk assessments and environmental assessments, and to consult local and regional authorities responsible for urban nodes. They add local transport modes such as cableway and lake transport, hydrogen-based rail, and multimodal inland waterway transport to the network's scope. They stress that Connecting Europe Facility funds are insufficient and that additional financial resources under the multiannual financial framework are needed to complete the core and comprehensive network. They call for a bigger regional and local role in TEN-T governance, including an active role in the corridor forum where they currently have observer status.

Committee position. The Committee on Regional Development calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism to take into account 41 amendments that strengthen the role of regional and local authorities and improve connectivity for rural, remote, insular, mountainous, outermost and sparsely populated regions.

Key points

  1. The revision of the 2013 TEN-T regulation should align the network with the EU's latest objectives, including fighting climate change, and strengthen TEN-T governance.
  2. The network should bridge missing links and remove bottlenecks, and connect strongly to secondary transport networks to achieve territorial cohesion.
  3. Infrastructure and services should be accessible to all, including persons with disabilities and reduced mobility.
  4. Regional and local bodies should get a bigger role in TEN-T governance, including an active role in the corridor forum instead of mere observer status.
  5. Amendment 1 adds that the network should make all transport modes inclusive in all regions of the Union.
  6. Amendment 2 adds outermost, remote, rural, insular, peripheral and mountainous regions, sparsely populated areas and transit countries to those the network should connect.
  7. Amendments 4 to 7 require Member States to cooperate with regional and local authorities on risk assessments and environmental assessments, including the 'do no significant harm' assessment.
  8. Amendment 8 adds local transport modes related to the area's morphology, such as cableway or lake transport, to the multimodal network definition.
  9. Amendment 9 adds that alternative fuels infrastructure should incorporate available technologies according to local and regional needs, such as hydrogen-based rail on short- to medium-haul routes.
  10. Amendment 10 states that exemptions from infrastructure requirements should not undermine all users' right to access the transport network, particularly in remote and sparsely populated areas.
  11. Amendment 15 stresses that Connecting Europe Facility funds are insufficient to complete the core and comprehensive network and that additional financial resources under the multiannual financial framework are needed.
  12. Amendments 35 and 41 require Member States to consult local and regional authorities responsible for urban nodes, and to ensure continuity of logistics supply chains using 'green lines' where necessary.

Who is affected

  • Regional and local authorities: given a bigger role in TEN-T governance and consulted on risk, environmental and urban node assessments.
  • Rural, remote, mountainous, insular, outermost and sparsely populated regions: amendments target improved accessibility and connectivity for them.
  • Persons with disabilities and reduced mobility: infrastructure and services should be accessible to them.
  • Member States: required to cooperate with regional and local authorities and to consult them on urban nodes.
  • Islands: territorial continuity principle should be effectively implemented and gaps bridged through increased services and connections.

Figures and deadlines

  • By 31 December 2040: development of at least one multimodal freight terminal within or near the urban node.
  • Road transport accounts for three-quarters of total inland freight transport (based on tonne-kilometres performed).
  • Road transport accounts for around 90% of total inland passenger transport (based on total passenger kilometres).