Combined goods transport: financial assistance to action pilots PACT

In adopting the report by Mr Ulrich Stockmann, (PPE; D), the European Parliament approved, with amendments, the Pilot Actions to promote Combined Transport (PACT) programme. It calls in particular for measures linked with PHARE projects in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and measures linked with Cohesion Fund projects in Cohesion Fund countries, to be eligible for assistance. Community financial assistance should be limited to 30% for feasibility studies and 50% for innovative measures. In the light of the eastward enlargement of the Union, Parliament considers that there should be negotiations in 1999 on increasing the financial framework for the programme. An additional amount of ECU 4 million should be made available annually in support of projects in, or transport axes to, the new Member States. Other amendments stress the importance of inland waterways and the 'sea-road' mode, especially for the islands and outermost regions of the EU. Parliament also wishes that 10% of the funding for the programme should be reserved, as a priority, for projects directly implementing results of innovative research. It further calls for the Commission to be assisted by an advisory committee. �