(1)

As underlined by the Work Plans for the Mediterranean Corridor, the cross-border project Lyon-Turin (the ‘project’) plays a crucial role in ensuring the functioning of the corridor with an interoperable and efficient connection across the Alpes, between France and Italy, for the transport of goods and passengers by rail.

(2)

Decarbonising transport through creating the conditions for an ambitious modal shift of long-distance transport of goods and passenger to energy-efficient transport modes, is a key policy objective of the Union and in line with the Union’s objectives towards fighting climate change.

(3)

In this context, fostering railway transport of goods and passengers is a clear priority of the Union transport policy, as outlined by the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy (2) and a long-standing priority of in the development of the TEN-T network.

(4)

Through the completion of the Lyon-Turin railway, the Mediterranean European Transport Corridor and its transalpine cross-border section will be equipped with modern, safe and energy efficient railway transport infrastructure contributing to modal shift.

(5)

The Lyon-Turin cross border link is listed as a pre-identified cross border link on the Mediterranean European Transport Corridor eligible for Union funding under the Connecting Europe Facility in Part III of the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).

(6)

Three bilateral treaties and one additional protocol between France and Italy (4) regulate and plan the project within the agreed political, legal and financial framework. A further bilateral agreement for cross-border transfers of material for the construction of the project was signed on 4 August 2023.

(7)

The Work Plan for the Mediterranean Corridor emphasises the need to ensure completion of the project in its entirety, which includes the cross-border base tunnel as well as access lines between the pre-identified urban nodes of Lyon and Turin.

(8)

All sections of the project are essential for a good functioning of the Mediterranean European Transport Corridor. They will be planned in line with standards set out in Article 16 and 18 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679.

(9)

The project is a complex cross-border long-term investment involving France, Italy and their respective neighbouring regions of Auvergne Rhône Alpes and Piedmont. It also benefits other Member States, which rely on a modern connection between France and Italy across the Alpes.

(10)

The project implies the creation of new infrastructure and the improvement of the existing one. In order to support the coordinated and timely implementation of the project, it is necessary to adopt provisions laying down a description of actions and a timetable for their implementation. The project is a long-term commitment requiring planning of investments across several budgetary cycles both at national and Union level. It will help achieving the cross-border objectives of the Work Plan for the Mediterranean European Transport Corridor, including the construction of access lines that will ensure the transit of 24 million tons of goods per year and 1,5 million passengers per year.

(11)

France and Italy have already carried out significant actions such as studies and infrastructure works. Those actions include the ongoing construction of the base tunnel in both countries (as of 31 October 2024), where 38,6 km of galleries have been excavated, out of which 14,7 km of the base tunnel), the planning of access lines on the Italian territory, the planning of the modernisation of the conventional rail line Ambérieu – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne as from 2027 with a dedicated budget of EUR 700 million, and the ongoing modernisation of the conventional rail line between Bussoleno-Avigliana. Regarding the French new railway lines, a decree of 13 August 2013 (5) declared the works to be in the public interest, the detailed railway alignment was approved. The avant-projet détaillé (APD) studies, co-financed by the Commission, France and the French regional authorities will be launched in 2025.

(12)

The clear identification of the necessary actions to complete the project and the timetable for their implementation are also important to plan and fully optimise the availability of Union, national, and regional funding. Union co-financing has an essential leverage effect on national and regional decision-making for the implementation of the actions. Therefore, it is important to identify the remaining actions necessary for the full completion of the project, so that Union resources can be exploited at the maximum level, in line with the respective planning and the applicable co-financing rates, together with the available financial resources at national and regional level. Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/1153, all of the sections of the project are eligible for Union funding (up to a maximum of 55 % for the base tunnel and 50 % for access lines). The remaining actions must demonstrate a high degree of integration in the planning and implementation of the actions and be in line with the award criteria set out in Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1153. Financial resources should therefore be fully optimised with the maximum efforts of all parties involved.

(13)

The Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Italian Republic for the construction and operation of a new Lyon-Turin railway line (6) and the additional protocol specify the certified cost of the cross-border base tunnel and, after subtracting the contribution of the Union and the part financed by tolls, the cost allocation key of 57,9 % for Italy and 42,1 % for France. Any additional costs will be equally allocated between Italy and France. The additional protocol also provides for the possibility of monetary revaluation and evolution of the costs of the production factors of the works.

(14)

The Franco-Italian company Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin, as a bi-national entity, is responsible for managing and constructing the cross-border section of the project. The national infrastructure managers of France and Italy respectively are responsible for constructing the access routes.

(15)

In order to monitor the progress of the project’s implementation, France and Italy should provide the Commission with regular reports on the matter concerning the sections situated in their respective territories, and notify any delays encountered.

(16)

Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679, Member States are to take appropriate measures to develop the core network by 31 December 2030. This obligation, however, is subject to the conditions set out in Article 8(5) of that Regulation, emphasising that the execution of projects of common interest is contingent upon factors such as their degree of maturity, compliance with both Union and national legal procedures, and the availability of financial resources, without prejudging the financial commitment of a Member State or of the Union.

(17)

The implementation timetable should be without prejudice to the fulfilment of the requirements set out in international law and Union law, including provisions to protect the environment and human health. The timetable should allow Member States to plan and fully optimise the availability of funding, without prejudging the financial commitment of a Member State or of the Union. It should, under no circumstances, compromise the Union’s and Member State’s standards for environmental protection and public participation.

(18)

Without prejudice to Article 54(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679], it is appropriate to start the review of this decision by the end of 2026, to reflect accurately the state of planning and construction of actions listed in Article 2.

(19)

France and Italy have approved the measures provided for in this Decision.

(20)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 61(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679,

(a)

the cross-border section of the tunnel together with the connecting stations of Saint Jean de Maurienne and Susa.

(b)

access lines on the Italian territory, composed of:

(c)

access lines on the French territory composed of: