(2004/C 78 E/0454)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2799/03

by Domenico Mennitti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 September 2003)

Subject:   Development of Pan-European corridors

The process of European integration is now reaching its final stage with the accession of ten new countries to the European Union.

There is therefore an urgent need to develop identified infrastructure to foster economic relations within an area that has expanded enormously in size.

Of particular importance among the types of infrastructure envisaged are ‘Pan-European corridors’, which are considered ideal tools for promoting economic exchange and especially trade.

In the light of the above, does the Commission not feel that the priority criteria should be broadened and special attention awarded to Pan-European corridor No 8 as part of the plans to boost the countries bordering the Mediterranean, which should be flanked with the development of adequate infrastructure?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

The enlargement of the Union will bring a major change into the corridor concept; two-thirds of the existing Corridors will be within the territory of the Union and only one-third of the corridors will be outside the Union territory. Corridors or axes could be seen both inside and outside of the enlarged Union — inside as a framework to channel the new priority transport routes which are emerging as a result of accelerated economic integration and which are one of the subjects of the ongoing revision of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) guidelines, and — outside to reflect international trade developments.

However, a fundamental re-assessment of future corridor development and management is needed. The number of corridors should probably remain at a level which is manageable and affordable in terms of financing. These redefined corridors or axes would need close and systematic supervision in order to be realised in a reasonable amount of time. A number of useful management techniques have been developed for the corridors. These structures (Memo of Understandings, Steering committees, etc.) are expected to make progress with the identification of inventories, bottlenecks and priority projects.

In the end, the implementation of the Corridor VIII, which has been signed only recently, depends on the countries concerned in the first place. As the Honourable Member may know, the whole alignment of the Corridor VIII on rail is also mentioned in the Report of the TEN-T High Level Group as an important project for territorial cohesion.