Trans-European transport network: Community guidelines
Pending Parliament’s opinion under the codecision procedure, the Council held a policy debate on the proposal for a decision on the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. The proposal concerns all forms of transport infrastructure - land, sea and air - in a context of intermodal integration. The proposed guidelines are intended to replace the three ‘modal’ Decisions adopted by the Council on 29 October 1993 (road, inland waterway and combined transport networks). They also include railways, ports and airports, and information and management systems for the whole network. After the debate, during which progress was made on some aspects of the proposed Decision, the Council instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to expedite the discussions, in light of the opinion of the European Parliament, so that a common position could be established as soon as possible. Referring to the conclusions of the Essen European Council, and independently of the proposed Decision, the Council: - stressed the importance it attached to the coherent and rapid development of the trans-European transport network, and in particular the implementation of the 14 priority projects approved by the European Council; - drew attention to the importance of the systems of transport management, especially in the field of air transport.