Trans-European transport network: seaports, inland ports, intermodal terminals and project No 8

The committee adopted the recommendation for second reading (codecision procedure) by Wilhelm PIECYK (PES, D) amending the Council's common position on amending Decision 1692/96/EC as regards seaports, inlands ports and intermodal terminals as well one of the Annexes. The committee essentially retabled a number of amendments from first reading that were not taken up in the common position. With regard to the traffic volume of inland ports, Council had adopted Parliament's criteria laying down an annual traffic volume as an alternative to intermodal transhipment facilities. However, it had reduced this volume from 500 000 tonnes, as advocated by Parliament, to 300 000 tonnes. The committee accordingly reinstated the figure of 500 000 tonnes, arguing that the TEN could not include every inland port in the EU. It also retabled its first reading amendments on port infrastructure and superstructure, stating that port superstructure was not eligible, apart from exceptions falling under the structural and cohesion funds. Another amendment reiterated Parliament's previous position whereby the traffic volume for the highest category ports should be increased from 1m to 1.5m tonnes. Lastly, the committe reinstated Parliament's first reading position on including intermodal terminals in the TENs, on the grounds that these were extremely important for environment-friendly sustainable mobility and for reducing traffic congestion.�