Combined goods transport: financial assistance to action pilots PACT

Although the Commission recognizes that the Council common position deviates from the original proposal by reducing the geographical scope of PACT and by changing the decision-making procedure, it does support the common position. The objectives and features of the instruments have not changed substantially. The Commission is currently exploring other financial instruments, for instance in the framework of PHARE and TACIS, which could fill the funding gap for combined transport projects linking the EC and its neighbours. The Commission regrets the shift from a IIa to a IIIa procedure. �