Trans-European transport network: financing projects by public-private partnerships

The resolution drafted by Alessandro DANESIN (I,EPP) supporting the involvement of the private sector in TENs programmes with high priority given to environmental protection was approved by the European Parliament. The report expresses the Parliament's conviction that without private investment the EU will fail to make significant progress with TENs within a reasonable time. The Parliament considers that TENs policy and financing should respect the goals of a sustainable mobility policy, promoting a more integrated use of all transport modes, in particular, intermodal transport favouring more environmentally-friendly modes, respect for the environment and safety, as well as the internationalisation of external transport costs and suitable arrangements to ensure that infrastructure users contribute to the relevant investment and maintenance costs. In the view of the Parliament, the success of public-private partnerships (PPPs) depends upon respect for an equilibrium between commercial and socio-economic criteria in project planning and a suitable division of risks. It considers that at both national and Community level, a suitable framework is required for the mobilisation of the private sector in the area of infrastructure, in particular by creating conditions of legal security. The Parliament appeals to Member States to devote at least 1.5% of their budget resources to TENs, especially in view of the multiplier effect of such investment for the economy and jobs. Finally, it requests that the Commission make proposals for new forms of long-term funding and, in cooperation with the EIB and the EIF, examine the possibility of improving the existing Community financial resources.�