|Community financing

|Public-private financing

Community financing

• COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION - Developing the trans-European transport network: Innovative funding solutions - Interoperability of electronic toll collection systems - Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the widespread introduction and interoperability of electronic road toll systems in the Community (presented by the Commission)
  COM(2003)0132 (317 KB)
   
• Press release, 23/04/2003
  New management, new finance mechanisms for Trans-European Transport Networks 
  
   
• Memo
  Building the trans-European transport network" 
  (233 KB)

Terms and conditions on rules on financial aid to the TEN-T

Regulation 2236/95 adopted by the Council of Ministers in 1995 lays down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of Trans-European Networks. This text covers the period 1995 to 1999.

The main terms are as follows:

• The EU may only fund projects identified in the guidelines (and shown on the maps). 

• The EU will fund not more than 50% of the cost of preliminary studies (feasibility studies), and 10% of the cost of the work. 

• The balance must be met out of public or private sector funds. 

• An environmental impact assessment must have been made for each project. 

• The project must offer guaranteed financial viability and show an adequate degree of maturity 

• The project must be consistent with the Union's other policies, notably as regards the environment, competition and the rules on the award of public contracts 

• Each project must be judged on its merits. 

This regulation was amended by a new text (Regulation 1655/99) adopted in June 1999 by the Council of Ministers and European Parliament. This covers the period 2000-2006. It introduces a number of new features:

• A multiannual indicative programme to give greater prominence to the EU funding of projects. 

• The introduction of risk capital for the financial aid given by the Union. 

• A higher ceiling for Community aid which may now, from 2003, be up to 20% of the total cost of the project in the case of satellite positioning and navigation systems. 

• € 4.6 billion will be earmarked for the Trans-European Networks (including telecommunications and energy networks) between now and 2006; the amount to be spent on Trans-European Transport Networks is still to be decided by the European Parliament. It is likely to be around € 4 to 4.2 billion. 

• At least 55% of funds for TEN-Ts will be given to railway projects and not more than 25% to roads. 

• The Commission may cancel its financing decisions if the project has not got under way within 2 years.