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Document 92003E001518
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1518/03 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Delays in the construction of the Figueres to Perpignan section of the high-speed rail link.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1518/03 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Delays in the construction of the Figueres to Perpignan section of the high-speed rail link.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1518/03 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Delays in the construction of the Figueres to Perpignan section of the high-speed rail link.
OJ C 33E, 6.2.2004, pp. 127–128
(ES, DA, DE, EL, EN, FR, IT, NL, PT, FI, SV)
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6.2.2004 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
CE 33/127 |
(2004/C 33 E/127)
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1518/03
by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission
(6 May 2003)
Subject: Delays in the construction of the Figueres to Perpignan section of the high-speed rail link
According to various reports in the Spanish media, the Franco-Spanish intergovernmental commission for the construction of the high-speed rail link between Figueres and Perpignan has broken off negotiations with the Euroferro group, formed by the companies Dragados and Bouygues, which had been chosen in July 2002 to build and operate this section of the track under a concession contract.
This section figures among the 14 projects adopted almost a decade ago by the Essen European Council of 10 December 1994.
Can the Commission say:
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whether the Member States involved have received or will receive Community grants for the completion of this rail project, and |
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what steps it will take to ensure that the Member States concerned speed up the completion of this project, which is a priority for the EU? |
Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission
(19 June 2003)
The Perpignan-Figueras link is part of a trans-European transport network priority project, and is one of the projects eligible for funding from the trans-European networks budget under the multiannual indicative programme. Accordingly, EUR 64,5 million is being made available over the period 2001-2006 to complete the programme of studies and to build the infrastructure. In 2001 the project was awarded a study grant worth EUR 1 million, shared equally between Spain and France. Previously, over the period 1995-2000, it had already received financial support — again from the trans-European networks budget — for technical and legal studies prior to launching the invitation to tender for the concession contract.
The delays in bringing the international link into service are basically due to the difficulties inherent in setting up the concession for the international section between Perpignan and Figueras. The chosen mode of financing is based on a public-private partnership. Accordingly, the Commission is bound to support the French and Spanish authorities' decision to seek innovative financing formulas, which is something it encouraged in the communication ‘Developing the trans-European transport network’ adopted some weeks ago (1). This support takes the form of the maximum Community contribution to the financing of the international section currently authorised by the trans-European networks financial regulation, i.e. 10 % of the total cost of the work. To facilitate the financing of trans-boundary sections of major infrastructure projects, the Commission has proposed that the financial regulation be revised to allow a co-financing rate of 20 % for work on trans-boundary rail projects which cross natural barriers. This proposal, which Parliament adopted at first reading in July 2002 (2), is still waiting for a common position from the Council.
(1) COM(2003) 132 final.
(2) COM(2003) 38 final.