Combined goods transport: financial assistance to action pilots PACT

In the light of the EU's efforts to promote combined goods transport, the Commission has come forward with a new PACT programme, Pilot Actions to promote Combined Transport. Combined transport can be road/rail, but also inland waterways, coastal shipping or high-seas vessel. This mode of transport is environmentally friendly.This programme has a budget of ECU 35 million. Feasibility studies and direct operations can be supported. Neither did the Council adopt the special consideration to be given to projects creating links with the countries of central and eastern Europe and synergies with the Phare programme and transport projects under the Cohesion Fund. Furthermore, 10% of the funding for the programme should be earmarked, as a priority, for projects directly implementing results of innovative research. (Amendment 5). The rapporteur sets great store on transport links with the countries in Central and eastern Europe. Therefore, he tabled amendment 6 concerning the financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation, for the period 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1991. STOCKMANN demands ECU 43 million against ECU 35 million in the common position, of which ECU 4 million should be earmarked for 2000 and 2001 for support for projects in or transport links to the prospective new member states.(Amendment 6).�