Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (repealed) (c. 1692)

Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

of 23 July 1996

on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (repealed)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 129d thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions(3),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty(4),

(1) Whereas the establishment and development of trans-European networks contribute to the attainment of major Community objectives, such as the smooth functioning of the internal market and the strengthening of economic and social cohesion;

(2) Whereas the establishment and development of trans-European transport networks throughout the territory of the Community also have the specific objectives of ensuring the sustainable mobility of persons and goods under the best possible social, environmental and safety conditions and integrating all modes of transport, taking account of their comparative advantages; whereas job creation is one of the possible spin-offs of the trans-European network;

(3) Whereas the Commission's White Paper on the development of a common transport policy calls for optimum use to be made of existing capacities and for the integration of all networks relating to the various modes of transport into a trans-European network for the road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air transport of passengers and goods and for combined transport;

(4) Whereas short distance shipping may, inter alia, help to relieve congestion on inland transport routes;

(5) Whereas network integration at European level can only be developed progressively by interlinking different modes of transport with a view to making better use of the inherent advantages of each;

(6) Whereas, in order to achieve these objectives, action by the Community to establish guidelines is necessary in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity; whereas it is necessary to establish the broad lines and the priorities of the Community action proposed in the field of trans-European transport networks;

(7) Whereas it is necessary to identify projects of common interest which contribute to the achievement of these objectives and which correspond to the priorities of the action which have thus been established; whereas only projects which are potentially economically viable should be taken into account;

(8) Whereas Member States need to take account of environmental protection when implementing projects of common interest by carrying out environmental impact studies pursuant to Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(5) and by applying Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(6);

(9) Whereas authorization for certain public and private projects likely to have a significant environmental impact should be granted only after prior assessment of that potential impact, in compliance with existing Community rules;

(10) Whereas it is necessary to identify projects of common interest concerning not only the various modes of transport in a multimodal approach but also traffic management and user information systems and positioning and navigation systems;

(11) Whereas one of the aims of this Decision is to identify such projects of common interest; whereas these projects are identified in Annex I, Annex II and in the enacting terms of this Decision; whereas the European Council in Essen attributed particular importance to fourteen of these projects;

(12) Whereas the Commission should submit every two years a report on the implementation of this Decision and every five years a report indicating whether the guidelines require revision;

(13) Whereas a Committee should be set up at the Commission with tasks which include assisting the Commission when it examines the implementation and development of these guidelines,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

SECTION 1 U.K. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Article 1 U.K. Purpose

1. The purpose of this Decision shall be to establish the guidelines covering the objectives, priorities and broad lines of measures envisaged in the area of the trans-European transport network; these guidelines identify projects of common interest, the implementation of which should contribute to the development of the network throughout the Community.

2. The guidelines referred to in paragraph 1 shall constitute a general reference framework intended to encourage the Member States and, where appropriate, the Community in carrying out projects of common interest, the purpose of which is to ensure the cohesion, interconnection and interoperability of the trans-European transport network, as well as access to that network. These projects shall form a common objective, the implementation of which depends on their degree of maturity and the availability of financial resources, without prejudging the financial commitment of a Member State or the Community. These guidelines are also intended to facilitate the involvement of the private sector.

3. Essential requirements relating to:

• the interoperability of the trans-European transport network,

• transport telematics and ancillary services,

shall be defined in accordance with the Treaty and separately from this Decision.

Article 2 U.K. Objectives

1. The trans-European transport network shall be established gradually by [F1 [X1 2020] ] by integrating land, sea and air transport infrastructure networks throughout the Community in accordance with the outline plans indicated on the maps in Annex I and/or the specifications in Annex II.

2. The network must:

(a) ensure the sustainable mobility of persons and goods within an area without internal frontiers under the best possible social and safety conditions, while helping to achieve the Community's objectives, particularly in regard to the environment and competition, and contribute to strengthening economic and social cohesion;

(b) offer users high-quality infrastructure on acceptable economic terms;

(c) include all modes of transport, taking account of their comparative advantages;

(d) allow the optimal use of existing capacities;

(e) be, insofar as possible, interoperable within modes of transport and encourage intermodality between the different modes of transport;

(f) be, insofar as possible, economically viable;

(g) cover the whole territory of the Member States of the Community so as to facilitate access in general, link island, landlocked and peripheral regions to the central regions and interlink without bottlenecks the major conurbations and regions of the Community;

(h) be capable of being connected to the networks of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries, while at the same time promoting interoperability and access to these networks, insofar as this proves to be in the Community's interest.

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 3 U.K. Scope of the network

1. The trans-European network shall comprise transport infrastructure, traffic management systems and positioning and navigation systems.

[F1 [X1 2. The transport infrastructure shall comprise road, rail and inland waterway networks, motorways of the sea, seaports and inland waterway ports, airports and other interconnection points between modal networks.] ]

3. The traffic management systems and the positioning and navigation systems shall include the necessary technical installations and information and telecommunications systems to ensure harmonious operation of the network and efficient traffic management.

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 4 U.K. Broad lines of measures

The broad lines of Community measures shall cover:

(a)

the drawing up and revision of the network outline plans;

(b)

the identification of projects of common interest;

(c)

the adaptation of the existing network;

(d)

the promotion of network interoperability;

(e)

the optimum combination of modes of transport, inter alia, by creating interconnection centres, which in the case of freight should be located, insofar as possible, away from urban centres, in order to render possible the effective operation of intermodality;

(f)

the pursuit of consistency and complementarity of financial aid in line with the rules applicable to each financial instrument;

(g)

research and development;

(h)

cooperation with third countries concerned by development of the network and the conclusion of suitable agreements with them;

(i)

incentives for Member States and international organizations to further the objectives pursued by the Community;

(j)

promotion of continuous cooperation between interested parties;

(k)

any other measures which prove necessary for the achievement of the objectives referred to in Article 2.

[F1 [X1 Article 5 U.K. Priorities

Taking into account the objectives set out in Article 2 and the broad lines of measures set out in Article 4, the priorities shall be:

(a)

establishment and development of the key links and interconnections needed to eliminate bottlenecks, fill in missing sections and complete the main routes, especially their cross-border sections, cross natural barriers, and improve interoperability on major routes;

(b)

establishment and development of infrastructure which promotes the interconnection of national networks in order to facilitate the linkage of islands, or areas similar to islands, and landlocked, peripheral and outermost regions on the one hand and the central regions of the Community on the other, in particular to reduce the high transport costs of these areas;

(c)

the necessary measures for the gradual achievement of an interoperable rail network, including, where feasible, routes adapted for freight transport;

(d)

the necessary measures to promote long-distance, short sea and inland shipping;

(e)

the necessary measures to integrate rail and air transport, especially through rail access to airports, whenever appropriate, and the infrastructures and installations needed;

(f)

optimisation of the capacity and efficiency of existing and new infrastructure, promotion of intermodality and improvement of the safety and reliability of the network by establishing and improving intermodal terminals and their access infrastructure and/or by deploying intelligent systems;

(g)

integration of safety and environmental concerns in the design and implementation of the trans-European transport network;

(h)

development of sustainable mobility of persons and goods in accordance with the objectives of the European Union on sustainable development.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 6 U.K. Third-country networks

Promotion by the Community of projects of common interest and network interconnection and interoperability in order to ensure the compatibility of third-country networks with the trans-European transport network shall be determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the appropriate procedures in the Treaty.

Article 7 U.K. Projects of common interest

1. In compliance with the rules of the Treaty, particularly as regards questions of competition, any project shall be considered to be of common interest which:

• pursues the objectives set out in Article 2,

• concerns the network described in Article 3,

• corresponds to one or more of the priorities set out in Article 5, and

• is potentially economically viable on the basis of analysis of the socio-economic costs and benefits.

2. Projects shall relate to an element of the network described in Articles 9 to 17 and shall in particular:

• relate to the routes identified on the maps in Annex I, and/or

• correspond to the specifications or criteria in Annex II.

3. Member States shall take any measures which they consider necessary within the framework of the principles laid down in Article 1 (2).

[F1 [X1 Article 8 U.K. Environmental protection

1. When projects are planned and carried out, environmental protection must be taken into account by the Member States by carrying out, pursuant to Council Directive 85/337/EEC, environmental impact assessments of projects of common interest which are to be implemented and by applying Directives 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (7)  and 92/43/EEC.

As from 21 July 2004 an environmental assessment of the plans and programmes leading to such projects, especially where they concern new routes or other important nodal infrastructure development, shall be carried out by Member States pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (8) . Member States shall take the results of this environmental assessment into account in the preparation of the plans and programmes concerned, in accordance with Article 8 of that Directive.

2. By 21 July 2004 , the Commission shall, in agreement with Member States, develop suitable methods for implementing the strategic environmental assessment with the objective of ensuring, inter alia , appropriate coordination, avoiding duplication of effort, and achieving simplification and acceleration of planning processes for cross-border projects and corridors.

The results of this work and of the environmental assessment of the TEN projects carried out by Member States pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC shall be taken into account, as appropriate, by the Commission in its report on the guidelines and the possible accompanying legislative proposals to revise the guidelines provided for in Article 18(3) of this Decision.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

SECTION 2 U.K. ROAD NETWORK

Article 9 U.K. Characteristics

1. The trans-European road network shall comprise motorways and high-quality roads, whether existing, new or to be adapted, which:

• play an important role in long-distance traffic, or

• bypass the main urban centres on the routes identified by the network, or

• provide interconnection with other modes of transport, or

• link landlocked and peripheral regions to central regions of the Community.

2. The network shall guarantee users a high, uniform and continuous level of services, comfort and safety.

[F1 [X1 3. The network shall also include infrastructure for traffic management, user information, dealing with incidents and emergencies and electronic fee collection, such infrastructure being based on active cooperation between traffic management systems at European, national and regional level and providers of travel and traffic information and value added services, which will ensure the necessary complementarity with applications whose deployment is facilitated under the trans-European telecommunications networks programme.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

SECTION 3 U.K. RAIL NETWORK

[F1 [X1 Article 10 U.K. Characteristics

1. The rail network shall comprise high-speed rail lines and conventional rail lines.

2. The high-speed rail network, whether using current or new technology, shall comprise:

(a) specially built high-speed lines equipped for speeds generally equal to or greater than 250 km/h;

(b) specially upgraded high-speed lines equipped for speeds of the order of 200 km/h;

(c) specially upgraded high-speed lines or lines specially built for high speed and connected to the high-speed rail network which have special features as a result of topographical or environmental, relief or town-planning constraints, on which speed must be adapted individually.

The high-speed rail network shall consist of the lines indicated in Annex I. Essential requirements and technical specifications for interoperability applicable to high-speed rail lines using current technology shall be defined in accordance with Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996 on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system (9) . Member States shall give the Commission prior notice of the opening of any high-speed line and of the line's technical characteristics.

3. The conventional rail network shall comprise lines for the conventional transport by rail of passengers and freight, including the rail segments of the trans-European combined transport network referred to in Article 14, access links to sea and inland ports of common interest and those freight terminals which are open to all operators. Essential requirements and technical specifications for interoperability applicable to the conventional rail lines are defined in accordance with Directive 2001/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001 on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system (10) .

4. The rail network shall include the infrastructures and the facilities which enable rail and road and, where appropriate, maritime services and air transport services to be integrated. In this regard, particular attention shall be paid to the connection of regional airports to the network.

5. The rail network shall fulfil at least one of the following functions:

(a) play an important role in long-distance passenger traffic;

(b) permit interconnection with airports, where appropriate;

(c) permit access to regional and local rail networks;

(d) facilitate freight transport by means of the identification and development of trunk routes dedicated to freight or routes on which freight trains have a priority;

(e) play an important role in combined transport;

(f) permit interconnection via ports of common interest with short sea shipping and inland waterways.

6. The rail network shall offer users a high level of quality and safety, by virtue of its continuity and of the gradual implementation of its interoperability, which shall be brought about in particular by technical harmonisation and the ERTMS harmonised command and control system recommended for the European railway network. To this end, a deployment plan, coordinated with national plans, shall be established by the Commission in consultation with the Member States.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

SECTION 4 U.K. INLAND WATERWAY NETWORK AND INLAND PORTS

Article 11 U.K. Characteristics

1. The trans-European inland waterway network shall comprise rivers and canals and various branches and links which connect them. It shall, in particular, render possible the interconnection between industrial regions and major conurbations and link them to ports.

2. The minimum technical characteristics for waterways forming part of the network shall be those laid down for a class IV waterway, which allows the passage of a vessel or a pushed train of craft 80 to 85 m long and 9,50 m wide. Where a waterway forming part of the network is modernized or constructed, the technical specifications should correspond at least to class IV, should enable class Va/Vb to be achieved at a later date and should make satisfactory provision for the passage of vessels used for combined transport. Class Va allows the passage of a vessel or a pushed train of craft 110 m long and 11,40 m wide and class Vb allows the passage of a pushed train of craft 172 to 185 m long and 11,40 m wide.

[F2 3. Inland ports shall form part of the network, in particular as points of interconnection between the waterways referred to in paragraph 2 and Article 14 and other modes of transport.]

[F3 3a. The network shall include inland ports

(a) open to commercial traffic,

(b) located on the network of inland waterways as shown in the outline in Annex I, Section 4,

(c) interconnected with other trans-European transport routes as shown in Annex I, and

(d) equipped with transhipment facilities for intermodal transport or with an annual freight traffic volume of at least 500 000  tonnes.]

[F4 [X1 3b. The inland ports of the network equipped with transhipment facilities for intermodal transport or with an annual freight traffic volume of at least 500 000  tonnes are shown in Annex I.] ]

[F1 [X1 4. The network shall also include the traffic management infrastructure. This shall entail in particular the establishment of an interoperable, intelligent traffic and transport system known as the ‘ River Information Services ’ intended to optimise the existing capacity and safety of the inland waterway network and to improve interoperability with other modes of transport.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

F2 Substituted by Decision No 1346/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC as regards seaports, inland ports and intermodal terminals as well as project No 8 in Annex III.

F3 Inserted by Decision No 1346/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC as regards seaports, inland ports and intermodal terminals as well as project No 8 in Annex III.

F4 Inserted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

SECTION 5 U.K. SEAPORTS

[F2 Article 12 U.K. Characteristics

1. Seaports shall permit the development of sea transport and shall constitute shipping links for islands and the points of interconnection between sea transport and other modes of transport. They shall provide equipment and services to transport operators. Their infrastructure shall provide a range of services for passenger and goods transport, including ferry services and short- and long-distance shipping services, including coastal shipping, within the Community and between the latter and non-member countries.

2. The seaports included in the network shall correspond to one of the categories, A, B or C, defined below:

A.

international seaports: ports with a total annual traffic volume of not less than 1,5 million tonnes of freight or 200 000  passengers which, unless it is an impossibility, are connected with the overland elements of the trans-European transport network and therefore play a major role in international maritime transport;

B.

Community seaports, not included in category A: these ports have a total annual traffic volume of not less than 0,5 million tonnes of freight or between 100 000  and 199 999  passengers, are connected, unless it is an impossibility, with the overland elements of the trans-European transport network and are equipped with the necessary transhipment facilities for short-distance sea shipping;

C.

regional ports: these ports do not meet the criteria of categories A and B but are situated in island, peripheral or outermost regions, interconnecting such regions by sea and/or connecting them with the central regions of the Community.

The seaports in category A shall be shown on the indicative maps in the outline plans in Section 5 of Annex I, on the basis of the most recent port data.

3. In addition to the criteria set out in Article 7, seaport projects of common interest related to seaports included in the trans-European seaport network shall comply with the criteria and specifications in Annex II.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Decision No 1346/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC as regards seaports, inland ports and intermodal terminals as well as project No 8 in Annex III.

[F4 [X1 Article 12a U.K. Motorways of the sea

1. The trans-European network of motorways of the sea is intended to concentrate flows of freight on sea-based logistical routes in such a way as to improve existing maritime links or to establish new viable, regular and frequent maritime links for the transport of goods between Member States so as to reduce road congestion and/or improve access to peripheral and island regions and States. Motorways of the sea should not exclude the combined transport of persons and goods, provided that freight is predominant.

2. The trans-European network of motorways of the sea shall consist of facilities and infrastructure concerning at least two ports in two different Member States. The facilities and infrastructure shall include elements, in at least one Member State, such as the port facilities, electronic logistics management systems, safety and security and administrative and customs procedures, as well as infrastructure for direct land and sea access, including ways of ensuring year-round navigability, in particular the availability of facilities for dredging and icebreakers for winter access.

3. Waterways or canals, as identified in Annex I, which link two European motorways of the sea, or two sections thereof, and make a substantial contribution to shortening sea routes, increasing efficiency and saving shipping time shall form part of the trans-European network of motorways of the sea.

4. The projects of common interest of the trans-European network of motorways of the sea shall be proposed by at least two Member States and shall be geared to actual needs. The projects proposed shall in general involve both the public and private sectors in accordance with procedures which, before aid granted from the national budgets can be supplemented, if necessary, by aid from the Community, provide for a tendering process in one of the following forms:

(a) a public call for tenders organised jointly by the Member States concerned, intended to establish new links from the category A port, as defined in Article 12(2), which they select in advance within each sea area, as referred to in project No 21 in Annex III;

(b) in so far as the location of the ports is comparable, a public call for tenders organised jointly by the Member States concerned and targeting consortia bringing together at least shipping companies and ports located in one of the sea areas, as referred to in project No 21 in Annex III.

5. The projects of common interest of the trans-European network of motorways of the sea:

• shall focus on the facilities and infrastructure which make up the network of motorways of the sea,

• may include, without prejudice to Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty, start-up aid if, as a result of the tendering process referred to in paragraph 4, public support is deemed necessary for the financial viability of the project. Start-up aid shall be limited to two years and shall be granted only in support of duly justified capital costs. The aid may not exceed the minimum estimated amount required to start up the links concerned. The aid may not lead to distortions of competition in the relevant markets contrary to the common interest,

• may also include activities which have wider benefits and are not linked to specific ports, such as making available facilities for ice-breaking and dredging operations, as well as information systems, including traffic management and electronic reporting systems.

6. The Commission shall, within three years, submit to the Committee referred to in Article 18 an initial list of specific projects of common interest, thereby putting the concept of the motorways of the sea into concrete form. This list shall also be communicated to the European Parliament.

7. The projects of common interest of the trans-European network of motorways of the sea shall be submitted to the Commission for approval.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F4 Inserted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

SECTION 6 U.K. AIRPORTS

Article 13 U.K. Characteristics

1. The trans-European airport network shall comprise airports situated within the territory of the Community which are open to commercial air traffic and which comply with the criteria set out in Annex II. These airports shall be classified differently according to the volume and type of traffic they handle and according to their function within the network. They shall permit the development of air links and the interconnection of air transport and other modes of transport.

2. The international connecting points and the Community connecting points shall constitute the core of the trans-European airport network. Links between the Community and the rest of the world shall be mainly via the international connecting points. The Community connecting points shall essentially provide links within the Community, with extra-Community services still accounting for a small proportion of their business. Regional connecting points and accessibility points shall facilitate access to the core of the network or help to open up peripheral and isolated regions.

[F4 [X1 3. International and Community connecting points shall be gradually linked to the high-speed lines of the rail network, where appropriate. The network shall include the infrastructures and the facilities which permit the integration of air and rail transport services and, where appropriate, maritime transport services.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F4 Inserted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

SECTION 7 U.K. COMBINED TRANSPORT NETWORK

[F2 Article 14 U.K. Characteristics

The trans-European combined transport network shall comprise:

• railways and inland waterways which are suitable for combined transport and shipping which, combined where appropriate with the shortest possible initial and/or terminal road haulage, permit the long-distance transport of goods,

• intermodal terminals equipped with installations permitting transhipment between railways, inland waterways, shipping routes and roads,

• suitable rolling stock, on a provisional basis, where the characteristics of the infrastructure, as yet unadapted, so require.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Decision No 1346/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC as regards seaports, inland ports and intermodal terminals as well as project No 8 in Annex III.

SECTION 8 U.K. SHIPPING MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION NETWORK

Article 15 U.K. Characteristics

The trans-European shipping management and information network shall concern:

• coastal and port shipping management systems,

• vessel positioning systems,

• reporting systems for vessels transporting dangerous or polluting goods,

• communications systems for distress and safety at sea,

so as to guarantee a high level of safety and efficiency of shipping and environmental protection in shipping zones belonging to Community Member States.

SECTION 9 U.K. AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT NETWORK

Article 16 U.K. Characteristics

The trans-European air traffic management network shall comprise the airspace reserved for general aviation, airways, air navigation aids, the traffic planning and management systems and the air traffic control system (control centres, surveillance and communications facilities) that are necessary for safe and efficient aviation in European airspace.

SECTION 10 U.K. POSITIONING AND NAVIGATION NETWORK

Article 17 U.K. Characteristics

The trans-European positioning and navigation systems network shall comprise the satellite positioning and navigation systems and the systems to be defined in the future European Radio Navigation Plan. These systems shall provide a reliable and efficient positioning and navigation service which can be used by all modes of transport.

[F4 [X1 SECTION 10a U.K. COORDINATION BETWEEN MEMBER STATES

Article 17a U.K. European Coordinator

1. In order to facilitate the coordinated implementation of certain projects, in particular cross-border projects or sections of cross-border projects included among the projects declared to be of European interest referred to in Article 19a, the Commission may designate, in agreement with the Member States concerned, and after having consulted the European Parliament, a person called the ‘ European Coordinator ’ . The European Coordinator shall act in the name of and on behalf of the Commission. The remit of the European Coordinator shall normally relate to a single project, especially in the case of a cross-border project, but may, if necessary, be extended to cover the whole of a major axis. The European Coordinator shall draw up together with the Member States concerned a work plan for his/her activities.

2. The European Coordinator shall be chosen, in particular, on the basis of his/her experience of European institutions and knowledge of issues relating to the financing and the socioeconomic and environmental evaluation of major projects.

3. The Commission decision designating the European Coordinator shall specify how he/she is to perform the tasks referred to in paragraph 5.

4. The Member States concerned shall cooperate with the European Coordinator and give him/her the information required to perform the tasks referred to in paragraph 5.

5. The European Coordinator shall:

(a) promote, in cooperation with the Member States concerned, joint methods for the evaluation of projects and, where appropriate, advise project promoters on the financial package for the projects;

(b) draw up a report every year for the European Parliament, the Commission and the Member States concerned on progress achieved in the implementation of the project(s) for which he/she is responsible, new regulatory or other developments which could affect the characteristics of the projects and any difficulties and obstacles which may result in a significant delay in relation to the dates indicated in Annex III;

(c) consult, together with the Member States concerned, regional and local authorities, operators, transport users, and representatives of civil society with a view to gaining fuller knowledge of the demand for transport services, the possibilities of investment funding and the type of services that must be provided in order to facilitate access to such funding.

6. Without prejudice to the applicable procedures laid down in Community and national law, the Commission may request the opinion of the European Coordinator when examining applications for Community funding for projects or groups of projects for which the European Coordinator is responsible.] ]

SECTION 11 U.K. COMMON PROVISIONS

Article 18 U.K. [F1 [X1 Committee for Monitoring Guidelines and the Exchange of Information] ]

[F1 [X1 1. The Member States shall provide the Commission with abstracts of national plans and programmes which they are drawing up with a view to development of the trans-European transport network, in particular in relation to the projects declared to be of European interest referred to in Article 19a. Once adopted, the Member States shall send the national plans and programmes to the Commission for information.] ]

2. A Committee on the Trans-European Transport Network, hereinafter called ‘the Committee’, is hereby set up at the Commission; it shall be composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission. The Committee shall exchange information on the plans and programmes notified by Member States and may consider any question relating to the development of the trans-European transport network.

[F1 [X1 3. The Commission shall report every two years to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the guidelines described in this Decision. The Committee set up under paragraph 2 shall assist the Commission with drawing up the report. The report shall be accompanied where necessary by legislative proposals to revise the guidelines; these legislative proposals may, if necessary, include amendments to the list of priority projects in Annex III or the addition to that list of projects that are in conformity with Article 19(1). The revision shall have particular regard to projects that contribute to the territorial cohesion of the European Union in accordance with Article 19(1)(e).] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

[F1 [X1 Article 19 U.K. Priority projects

1. The priority projects shall be projects of common interest referred to in Article 7 where examination confirms that they:

(a) are intended to eliminate a bottleneck or complete a missing link on a major route of the trans-European network, in particular projects which are cross-border projects, cross natural barriers or have a cross-border section;

(b) are on such a scale that long-term planning at European level will help significantly;

(c) present, overall, potential socio-economic net benefits and other socioeconomic advantages;

(d) significantly improve the mobility of goods and persons between Member States and thus also contribute to the interoperability of national networks;

(e) contribute to the territorial cohesion of the European Union by integrating the networks of the new Member States and improving connections with the peripheral and island regions;

(f) contribute to the sustainable development of transport by improving safety and reducing environmental damage caused by transport, in particular by promoting a modal shift towards railways, intermodal transport, inland waterways and maritime transport;

(g) demonstrate commitment on the part of the Member States concerned to carrying out studies and evaluation procedures in time to complete the work in accordance with a date agreed in advance, based upon national plans or any other equivalent document relating to the project in question.

2. The priority projects on which work is due to start before 2010, the sections thereof and the dates agreed for completing the work referred to in paragraph 1(g) are set out in Annex III.

3. By 2010 the Commission shall draft a progress report and, if necessary, propose amendments to the list of priority projects identified in Annex III in line with paragraph 1.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

[F4 [X1 Article 19a U.K. Declaration of European interest

1. The priority projects identified in Annex III are declared to be of European interest. This declaration is made solely in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Treaty and in the legal acts based thereon.

2. Without prejudice to the legal basis of the Community financial instrument in question:

(a) when submitting their projects under the Cohesion Fund, in accordance with Article 10 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 of 16 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund (11) , the Member States shall give appropriate priority to the projects declared to be of European interest;

(b) when submitting their projects under the budget for the trans-European networks, in accordance with Articles 9 and 10 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks (12) , the Member States shall give appropriate priority to the projects declared to be of European interest;

(c) the Commission shall encourage the Member States to take into account the projects declared to be of European interest when planning the programming of the Structural Funds, in particular in regions covered by Objective 1, having regard to national transport plans falling within the scope of existing Community support frameworks;

(d) the Commission shall ensure that the countries qualifying for the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-accession give appropriate priority, when submitting their projects under that instrument in accordance with Articles 2 and 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1267/1999 of 21 June 1999 establishing an Instrument for Structural Policies for Preaccession (13) , to the projects declared to be of European interest.

3. When forecasting its financial needs, the Commission shall give appropriate priority to the projects declared to be of European interest.

4. In the event of a significant delay, in relation to the deadline of 2010, in starting work on one of the projects declared to be of European interest, the Commission shall ask the Member States concerned to give the reasons for the delay within three months. On the basis of the reply given, the Commission shall consult all the Member States concerned in order to solve the problem which has led to the delay.

The Commission may, in consultation with the Committee set up under Article 18(2), and as part of its active monitoring of the implementation of the project declared to be of European interest and having due regard to the principle of proportionality, decide to adopt appropriate measures. The Member States concerned shall be given the opportunity to submit observations on such measures before their adoption.

The European Parliament shall be informed immediately of any measure taken.

In adopting these measures, the Commission shall take due account of the share of responsibility for the delay of each Member States concerned and shall refrain from taking measures that would affect the realisation of the project in Member States not responsible for the delay.

5. In the event that a project declared to be of European interest is not substantially completed within a reasonable period of time after the expected date of its completion indicated in Annex III, and all Member States concerned are responsible for the delay, the Commission shall review the project, in accordance with the procedure referred to in paragraph 4, with a view to withdrawing its classification as a project declared to be of European interest by means of the revision procedure referred to in Article 18(3). The Commission shall, in any event, review the project at the end of a period of 15 years after it has been declared to be of European interest within the meaning of this Decision.

6. Five years after completion of a project declared to be of European interest or of one of the sections thereof, the Member States concerned shall carry out an assessment of its socioeconomic impact and its impact on the environment, including its impact on trade and the free movement of persons and goods between Member States, on territorial cohesion and on sustainable development. Member States shall inform the Commission of the results of this assessment.

7. Where a project declared to be of European interest includes a cross-border section which is technically and financially indivisible, the Member States concerned shall coordinate their procedures for assessing the socioeconomic effects thereof and use their best endeavours to conduct a transnational enquiry prior to granting construction permission and within the existing framework.

8. Other sections of projects of European interest will be coordinated bilaterally or multilaterally by the Member States on a case-by case basis.

9. The coordinated actions or transnational enquiries referred to in paragraph 7 shall apply without prejudice to the obligations imposed by the Community legislation on environmental protection, and particularly those relating to environmental impact assessment. The Member States concerned shall inform the Commission when such coordinated actions or transnational enquiries are launched and of the results. The Commission shall include that information in the report referred to in Article 18(3).

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F4 Inserted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 19b U.K. Cross-border sections

In the context of certain priority projects, cross-border sections between two Member States, including motorways of the sea, shall be identified by the Member States on the basis of criteria defined by the Committee set up under Article 18(2) and notified to the Commission. These will be, notably, sections which are technically and financially indivisible or to which the Member States concerned commit themselves jointly and for which they put in place a common structure.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F4 Inserted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

F5 Article 20 U.K. [F5 [X1 Multimodal transport and traffic management

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F5 Deleted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

F5 Article 21 U.K. Revision of the guidelines] ]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F5 Deleted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 22 U.K. Repeal

Council Decision 78/174/EEC of 20 February 1978 instituting a consultation procedure and setting up a committee in the field of transport infrastructure(14) is hereby repealed.

Article 23 U.K.

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 24 U.K.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

ANNEX I U.K. NETWORK SCHEMES ILLUSTRATED BY MAPS(15)

[F6 [F1 [X1 Section 2: U.K. Road network

2.0.

Europe

2.1.

Belgium

2.2.

Denmark

2.3.

Germany

2.4.

Greece

2.5.

Spain

2.6.

France

2.7.

Ireland

2.8.

Italy

2.9.

Luxembourg

2.10.

Netherlands

2.11.

Austria

2.12.

Portugal

2.13.

Finland

2.14.

Sweden

2.15.

United Kingdom

2.16.

[F7 Bulgaria

2.17.

Roumania]

Textual Amendments

F7 Inserted by Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 of 20 November 2006 adapting certain Regulations and Decisions in the fields of free movement of goods, freedom of movement of persons, company law, competition policy, agriculture (including veterinary and phytosanitary legislation), transport policy, taxation, statistics, energy, environment, cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs, customs union, external relations, common foreign and security policy and institutions, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

Textual Amendments

F6 Substituted by Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded.

Section 3: U.K. Rail network

3.0.

Europe

3.1.

Belgium

3.2.

Denmark

3.3.

Germany

3.4.

Greece

3.5.

Spain

3.6.

France

3.7.

Ireland

3.8.

Italy

3.9.

Luxembourg

3.10.

Netherlands

3.11.

Austria

3.12.

Portugal

3.13.

Finland

3.14.

Sweden

3.15.

United Kingdom

3.16.

[F7 Bulgaria

3.17.

Roumania]

Section 4: U.K. Inland waterways network and inland ports.

• [F7 Bulgaria

• Roumania] ] ]

Section 5: U.K. Seaports - Category A

5.0

Europe

5.1

Baltic Sea

5.2

North Sea

5.3

Atlantic Ocean

5.4

Mediterranean Sea - western part

5.5

Mediterranean Sea - eastern part

5.6

Cyprus

5.7

Malta

5.8

[F7 Bulgaria

5.9

Roumania]

[F1 [X1 Section 6: U.K. Airports network

6.0.

Europe

6.1.

Belgium/Denmark/Germany/Luxembourg/Netherlands/Austria

6.2.

Greece

6.3.

Spain/Portugal

6.4.

France

6.5.

Ireland/United Kingdom

6.6.

Italy

6.7.

Finland/Sweden

6.8

[F7 Bulgaria

6.9

Roumania] ] ]

Section 7: U.K. Combined transport network

7.1.

A.

Rail

B.

Rail, large-scale

7.2.

Inland waterways]

NB: U.K.

The term ‘planned’ in keys to the maps covers all stages of an infrastructure project of common interest from preliminary studies until construction.

SECTION 2 U.K. ROAD NETWORK

[F1 [X1 [F8 ] ] ] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F8 Substituted by Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 of 20 November 2006 adapting certain Regulations and Decisions in the fields of free movement of goods, freedom of movement of persons, company law, competition policy, agriculture (including veterinary and phytosanitary legislation), transport policy, taxation, statistics, energy, environment, cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs, customs union, external relations, common foreign and security policy and institutions, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

[F7

]

SECTION 3 U.K. RAIL NETWORK

[F1 [X1 [F8 ] ] ] U.K.

[F7

]

[F2 SECTION 4 U.K. INLAND WATERWAY NETWORK AND INLAND PORTS

[F8 ] U.K.

[F7

] ]

[F3 SECTION 5 U.K. SEAPORTS — CATEGORY A

[F6 [F8 ] U.K.

]

[F7 ] ]

SECTION 6 U.K. AIRPORTS

[F1 [X1 [F8 ] ] ] U.K.

[F7

]

SECTION 7 U.K. COMBINED TRANSPORT NETWORK

[F8 ] U.K.

[ F9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F9 Deleted by Decision No 1346/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC as regards seaports, inland ports and intermodal terminals as well as project No 8 in Annex III.

ANNEX II U.K. CRITERIA AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR PROJECTS OF COMMON INTEREST(16)

Section 2

:

Road network

Section 3

:

Rail network

Section 4

:

Inland waterway network and inland ports

Section 5

:

Seaports

Section 6

:

Airports

Section 7

:

Combined transport network

Section 8

:

Shipping information and management network

Section 9

:

Air traffic management network

Section 10

:

Positioning and navigation network

Section 2 U.K. Road network

In addition to projects relating to the links in Annex I, projects of common interest will be deemed to include any infrastructure project relating to such links which deals with:

A.

Development of the network, and in particular:

• widening of motorways or upgrading of roads,

• construction or improvement of bypasses or ring roads,

• increasing the interoperability of national networks.

B.

Development of traffic management and user information systems, and in particular:

• establishment of telematic infrastructures for collecting traffic data,

• developing traffic information centres and traffic control centres, as well as exchanges of data between traffic information centres in different countries,

• establishing road information services, in particular the RDS-TMC system(17),

• technical interoperability of telematic infrastructures.

Section 3 U.K. Rail network

In addition to projects relating to the links in Annex I, projects of common interest will be deemed to include any infrastructure project relating to such links which deals with:

• interoperability between trans-European railway systems,

• interconnection with networks of other modes of transport.

Section 4 U.K. Inland waterway network and inland ports

[F2 Inland ports U.K.

Projects of common interest must relate solely to infrastructure open to any user on a non-discriminatory basis.

In addition to projects relating to the connections and inland ports mentioned in Annex I, projects of common interest will be deemed to include any infrastructure project corresponding to one or more of the following categories:

1.

access to the port from waterways;

2.

port infrastructure inside the port area;

3.

other transport infrastructures inside the port area;

4.

other transport infrastructures linking the port to other elements of the trans-European network.

Any project which concerns the following work will be deemed to be of common interest: construction and maintenance of all elements of the transport system generally open to all transport users within the port and of links with the national or international transport network; in particular, this includes the development and maintenance of land for commercial and other port-related purposes, the construction and maintenance of road and rail connections, the construction and maintenance, including dredging, of access routes and of other areas of water in the port, and the construction and maintenance of navigation aids and traffic management, communication and information systems in the port and on the access routes.]

Traffic management U.K.

Projects of common interest will be deemed to include in particular:

• a signalling and guidance system for vessels, in particular those carrying dangerous or polluting goods,

• communications systems for emergencies and inland waterway safety.

[F2 Section 5 U.K. Seaports

1. Common conditions for projects of common interest relating to seaports in the network U.K.

Projects of common interest must relate solely to infrastructure open to any user on a non-discriminatory basis.

Any project which concerns the following work will be deemed to be of common interest: construction and maintenance of all elements of the transport system generally open to all transport users within the port and of links with the national or international transport network; in particular, this includes the development and maintenance of land for commercial and other port-related purposes, the construction and maintenance of road and rail connections, the construction and maintenance, including dredging, of access routes and of other areas of water in the port, and the construction and maintenance of navigation aids and traffic management, communication and information systems in the port and on the access routes.

2. Specifications for projects of common interest relating to the seaport network U.K.

Any project which meets the following specifications will be deemed to be of common interest:

Project specifications	Port category
I. Promotion of short-distance sea shipping
Infrastructure necessary for the development of short-distance sea and sea-river shipping	Projects relating to ports in category A
II. Access to ports
Access to ports from sea or inland waterway	Projects relating to ports in categories A and B
Permanent accessibility of ports in the Baltic Sea situated at approximately latitude 60° north and beyond, including capital costs for ice-breaking works during winter	Projects relating to ports in categories A, B and C
Creation or improvement of hinterland access linking the port to other elements of the trans-European transport network through rail, road and inland-waterway connections	Projects relating to ports in category A
Development of existing hinterland access linking the port to other elements of the trans-European transport network through rail, road and inland-waterway connections	Projects relating to ports in categories A and B
III. Port infrastructure within the port area
Development of port infrastructure in order to increase intermodal efficiency	Projects relating to ports in categories A and B
Upgrading of the port infrastructure, in particular in ports on islands and in peripheral and outermost regions	Projects relating to ports in category C
Development and installation of management and information systems such as EDI (electronic data interchange) or other systems of intelligent management of goods and passenger traffic using integrated technologies	Projects relating to ports in categories A, B and C
Development of port installations to receive waste	Projects relating to ports in categories A, B and C]

Section 6 U.K. Airports

I. Eligibility criteria for airports of common interest U.K.

Airports of common interest must meet the criteria of one of the following connecting points:

1.

International connecting points will include:

• all airports or airport systems(18) with a total annual traffic volume of no less than:

  • 5 000 000 passenger movements minus 10 %, or

  • 100 000 commercial aircraft movements, or

  • 150 000 tonnes freight throughput, or

  • 1 000 000 extra-Community passenger movements;

  or

• any new airport constructed to replace an existing international connecting point which cannot be developed further on its site.

2.

Community connecting points will include:

• all airports or airport systems with an annual traffic volume of:

  • between 1 000 000 minus 10 % and 4 499 999 passenger movements, or

  • between 50 000 and 149 999 tonnes freight throughput, or

  • between 500 000 and 899 999 passenger movements, of which at least 30 % are non-national, or

  • between 300 000 and 899 999 passenger movements and located off the European mainland at a distance of over 500 km from the nearest international connecting point;

  or

• any new airport constructed to replace an existing Community connecting point which cannot be developed further on its site.

3.

Regional connecting points and accessibility points will include all airports

• with an annual traffic volume of between 500 000 and 899 999 passenger movements, of which less than 30 % are non-national, or

• with an annual traffic volume of between 250 000 minus 10 % and 499 999 passenger movements, or

• with an annual traffic volume of between 10 000 and 49 999 tonnes freight throughput, or

• located on an island of a Member State, or

• located in a landlocked area of the Community with commercial services operated by aircraft with a maximum take-off weight in excess of 10 tonnes.

An airport is located in a landlocked area if it is situated outside a radius of over 100 km from the nearest international or Community connecting point. This distance may, by way of exception, be reduced to 75 km in order to take account of difficult access due to the geographical situation or the poor quality of the inland transport infrastructure.

II. Specifications for projects of common interest related to the airport network U.K.

All project will qualify as a project of common interest if it meets the following specifications:

a This table does not exclude the measures concerned from being extended to other connecting points in certain, duly justified, special cases.
Project specifications	Type of connecting point principally concerneda
I. Optimization of existing airport capacity
Measure 1 — Optimization of the existing capacity in terms of aircraft, passenger or freight movements, including the airport's air avigation equipment	International Community Regional connecting point and accessibility point
Measure 2 — Improvement of airport security and safety	International Community Regional connecting point and accessibility point
Measure 3 — Adaptation of existing infrastructures made necessary by completion of the internal market and in particular by the measures governing the free movement of persons within the Union	International Community Regional connecting point and accessibility point
II. Development of new airport capacities
Measure 4 — Development of the infrastructure and equipment which determine airport capacity in terms of aircraft, passenger or freight movements, including the airport's air navigation equipment	International Community
Measure 5 — Construction of new airport to replace an existing airport or airport system which cannot be developed further on its site	International Community
III. Improvement of protection against nuisances generated by airport activities
Measure 6 — Improvement of environmental compatibility in terms of noise and the treatment of airport effluent	International Community
IV. Improvement or development of airport access
Measure 7 — Improvement or development of interfaces between the airport and access infrastructures	International Community
Measure 8 — Improvement and development of interconnections with other transport networks, and more specifically the rail network	International Community

Section 7 U.K. Combined transport network

In addition to the projects relating to links specified in Annex I, projects of common interest will be deemed to include any project concerning:

• construction or upgrading of railway or inland waterway infrastructures in order to make the transport of intermodal loading units technically possible and economically viable,

• [F2 construction or development of centres for transfers between inland types of transport, including the setting up within the terminal of transhipment equipment with the corresponding infrastructure,

• adaptation of port areas, making it possible to develop or improve combined transport between sea transport and rail, inland waterway or road transport,]

• railway transport equipment specially adapted to combined transport where so required by the nature of the infrastructure, particularly as regards the cost of the possible adaptation of such infrastructure and subject to the use of such equipment being associated with the infrastructure in question and the operators concerned being able to avail themselves of it on a non-discriminatory basis.

Section 8 U.K. Shipping information and management network

Projects of common interest will be deemed to include any project:

• relating to the objectives of Community shipping safety policy, or

• designed to implement international conventions and resolutions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the area of shipping safety and concerning:

  • implementation of the Community system of notification of vessels bound for or coming from Community ports or transiting off Comunity coasts, with the aid of an electronic system of data exchanges also including transmission of data between vessels and land installations via transponders, particular attention will be given to EDI (electronic data interchange) electronic systems of data exchange including compatible interfaces,

  • the development and improvement of the LORAN-C land-based radio-navigation channels,

  • the development or improvement of coastal and port shipping management and information systems (VTS) and their interconnection, with a view to safer and more effective surveillance and management of shipping, in particular in converging, busy, or environmentally sensitive areas,

  • the development of tools to improve understanding of traffic: databases on traffic flows and shipping accidents, development of the European Permanent Traffic Observatory (EPTO) tool for analysing traffic flows,

  • the development of infrastructure and equipment in order to further the implementation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS),

  • the improvement of telematic data exchange systems in the context of port state control of vessels.

Section 9 U.K. Air traffic management network

Projects of common interest are deemed to include any project leading to an increase in the capacity of the system and optimizing its use which forms part of a pattern of harmonization and integration of the facilities and procedures of the various national connecting points and complies with the relevant international standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and by the competent European bodies, all of the foregoing taking account in particular of the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol).

Such projects relate to:

• studies on better utilization of airspace by the various users and the establishment of a consistent and efficient system of routes,

• air traffic planning and management which helps supply keep pace with demand and makes optimal use of available control capacities,

• the studies and work necessary for the harmonization of facilities and procedures so as to integrate the various service providers taking particular account of the guidelines adopted by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC),

• the improvement of system productivity, in particular by means of automated control assistance and potential conflict detection and resolution systems,

• contributions to the installation of means of communication, navigation and surveillance necessary for air traffic control, including the promotion of new technologies, in particular satellites and digital data networks, where that leads to compliance with European common specifications.

Section 10 U.K. Positioning and navigation network

Projects of common interest are deemed to include any project relating to the establishment of any component of the future European Radio Navigation Plan or of a global satellite positioning and navigation system forming part of the following structure:

• control centre comprising a processing and control system,

• network of earth navigation stations,

• space segment composed of satellites enabling navigation signals to be transmitted,

• network of surveillance stations.

[F1 [X1 ANNEX III U.K. PRIORITY PROJECTS ON WHICH WORK IS DUE TO START BEFORE 2010

1. Railway axis Berlin-Verona/Milan-Bologna-Napels-Messina-Palermo U.K.

• Halle/Leipzig-Nürnberg (2015)

• Nürnberg-Munich (2006)

• Munich-Kufstein (2015)

• Kufstein-Innsbruck (2009)

• Brenner tunnel (2015), cross-border section

• Verona-Napels (2007)

• Milan-Bologna (2006)

• Rail/road bridge over the Strait of Messina-Palermo (2015)

2. High-speed railway axis Paris-Brussels/Brussels-Cologne-Amsterdam-London U.K.

• Channel tunnel-London (2007)

• Brussels/Brussels-Liège-Cologne (2007)

• Brussels/Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam (2007) (19)

3. High-speed railway axis of south-west Europe U.K.

• Lisbon/Porto-Madrid (2011) (20)

• Madrid-Barcelona (2005)

• Barcelona-Figueras-Perpignan (2008)

• Perpignan-Montpellier (2015)

• Montpellier-Nîmes (2010)

• Madrid-Vitoria-Irún/Hendaye (2010)

• Irún/Hendaye-Dax, cross-border section (2010)

• Dax-Bordeaux (2020)

• Bordeaux-Tours (2015)

4. High-speed railway axis east U.K.

• Paris-Baudrecourt (2007)

• Metz-Luxembourg (2007)

• Saarbrücken-Mannheim (2007)

5. Betuwe line (2007). U.K.

6. Railway axis Lyon-Trieste-Divača/Koper-Divača-Ljubljana-Budapest-Ukrainian border (21) U.K.

• Lyon-St Jean de Maurienne (2015)

• Mont-Cenis tunnel (2015-2017), cross-border section

• Bussoleno-Turin (2011)

• Turin-Venice (2010)

• Venice-Ronchi Sud-Trieste Divača (2015)

• Koper- Divača -Ljubljana (2015)

• Ljubljana-Budapest (2015)

7. Motorway axis Igoumenitsa/Patra-Athina-Sofia-Budapest U.K.

• Via Egnatia (2006)

• Pathe (2008)

• Sofia-Kulata-Greek/Bulgarian border motorway (2010), with Promahon-Kulata as cross-border section

• Nadlac-Sibiu motorway (branch towards Bucuresti and Constanța) (2007)

8. Multimodal axis Portugal/Spain-rest of Europe (22) U.K.

• Railway La Coruña-Lisbon-Sines (2010)

• Railway Lisbon-Valladolid (2010)

• Railway Lisbon-Faro (2004)

• Lisbon-Valladolid motorway (2010)

• La Coruña-Lisbon motorway (2003)

• Seville-Lisboa motorway (completed 2001)

• New Lisbon airport (2015)

9. Railway axis Cork-Dublin-Belfast-Stranraer (23) (2001) U.K.

10. Malpensa (completed 2001) (24) U.K.

11. Öresund fixed link (completed 2000) (25) U.K.

12. Nordic triangle railway/road axis U.K.

• Road and railway projects in Sweden 2010) (26)

• Helsinki-Turku motorway (2010)

• Railway Kerava-Lahti (2006)

• Helsinki-Vaalimaa motorway (2015)

• Railway Helsinki-Vainikkala (Russian border) (2014)

13. UK/Ireland/Benelux road axis (2010) U.K.

14. West coast main line (2007) U.K.

15. Galileo (2008) U.K.

16. Freight railway axis Sines-Madrid-Paris U.K.

• New high-capacity rail axis across the Pyrenees

• Railway Sines-Badajoz (2010)

• Railway line Algeciras-Bobadilla (2010)

17. Railway axis Paris-Strasbourg-Stuttgart-Vienna-Bratislava U.K.

• Baudrecourt-Strasbourg-Stuttgart (2015) with the Kehl bridge as cross-border section

• Stuttgart-Ulm (2012)

• Munich-Salzburg (2015), cross-border section

• Salzburg-Vienna (2012)

• Vienna-Bratislava (2010), cross-border section

18. Rhine/Meuse-Main-Danube inland waterway axis (27) U.K.

• Rhine-Meuse (2019) with the lock of Lanaye as cross-border section

• Vilshofen-Straubing (2013)

• Wien-Bratislava (2015) cross-border section

• Palkovicovo-Mohács (2014)

• Bottlenecks in Romania and Bulgaria (2011)

19. High-speed rail interoperability on the Iberian peninsula U.K.

• Madrid-Andalusia (2010)

• North-east (2010)

• Madrid-Levante and Mediterranean (2010)

• North/North-west corridor, including Vigo-Porto (2010)

• Extremadura (2010)

20. Fehmarn Belt railway axis U.K.

• Fehmarn Belt fixed rail/road link (2014)

• Railway for access in Denmark from Öresund (2015)

• Railway for access in Germany from Hamburg (2015)

• Railway Hannover-Hamburg/Bremen (2015)

21. Motorways of the sea U.K.

Projects of common interest identified in accordance with Article 12a and concerning the following motorways of the sea:

• motorway of the Baltic Sea (linking the Baltic Sea Member States with Member States in central and western Europe, including the route through the North Sea/Baltic Sea Canal (Kiel Canal) (2010)),

• motorway of the sea of western Europe (leading from Portugal and Spain via the Atlantic Arc to the North Sea and the Irish Sea) (2010),

• motorway of the sea of south-east Europe (connecting the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean to include Cyprus) (2010)

• motorway of the sea of south-west Europe (western Mediterranean), connecting Spain, France, Italy and including Malta, and linking with the motorway of the sea of south-east Europe (28) (2010).

22. Railway axis Athina-Sofia-Budapest-Vienna-Prague-Nürnberg/Dresden (29) U.K.

• Railway Greek/Bulgarian border-Kulata-Sofia-Vidin/Calafat (2015)

• Railway Curtici-Brasov (towards Bucarest and Constanta) (2010)

• Railway Budapest-Vienna (2010), cross-border section

• Railway Břeclav-Prague-Nürnberg (2010), with Nürnberg-Prague as cross-border section

Railway axis Prague-Linz (2016)

23. Railway axis Gdansk-Warsaw-Brno/Bratislava-Vienna (30) U.K.

• Railway Gdansk-Warsaw-Katowice (2015)

• Railway Katowice-Břeclav (2010)

• Railway Katowice-Zilina-Nove Mesto n.V. (2010)

24. Railway axis Lyon/Genoa-Basel-Duisburg-Rotterdam/Antwerp U.K.

• Lyon-Mulhouse-Mülheim (31) , with Mulhouse-Mülheim as cross-border section (2018)

• Genoa-Milan/Novara-Swiss border (2013)

• Basel-Karlsruhe (2015)

• Frankfurt-Mannheim (2012)

• Duisburg-Emmerich (2009) (32)

• ‘ Iron Rhine ’ Rheidt-Antwerp, cross-border section (2010)

25. Motorway axis Gdansk-Brno/Bratislava-Vienna (33) U.K.

• Gdansk-Katowice motorway (2010)

• Katowice-Brno/Zilina motorway (2010), cross-border section

• Brno-Vienna motorway (2009), cross-border section

26. Railway/road axis Ireland/United Kingdom/continental Europe U.K.

• Road/railway axis linking Dublin with the North (Belfast-Larne) and South (Cork) (2010) (34)

• Road/railway axis Hull-Liverpool (2015)

• Railway Felixstowe-Nuneaton (2011)

• Railway Crewe-Holyhead (2008)

27. ‘ Rail Baltica ’ axis Warsaw-Kaunas-Riga-Tallinn-Helsinki U.K.

• Warsaw-Kaunas (2010)

• Kaunas-Riga (2014)

• Riga-Tallinn (2016)

28. ‘ Eurocaprail ’ on the Brussels-Luxembourg-Strasbourg railway axis U.K.

• Brussels-Luxembourg-Strasbourg (2012)

29. Railway axis of the Ionian/Adriatic intermodal corridor U.K.

• Kozani-Kalambaka-Igoumenitsa (2012)

• Ioannina-Antirrio-Rio-Kalamata (2014)

30. Inland waterway Seine-Scheldt. U.K.

Navigability improvements Deulemont-Gent (2012-2014-2016)

Compiègne-Cambrai (2012-2014-2016)

The date, agreed in advance, for completing the work is shown in brackets. The dates for completing the work for projects 1 to 20 and 30 and the details of the sections are as indicated in the High-Level Group's report where these have actually been identified.] ]

(1)

OJ No C 220, 8. 8. 1994, p. 1 and OJ No C 97, 20. 4. 1995, p. 1.

(2)

OJ No C 397, 31. 12. 1994, p. 23.

(3)

OJ No C 210, 14. 8. 1995, p. 34.

(4)

Opinion of the European Parliament of 18 May 1995 (OJ No C 151, 19. 6. 1995, p. 234). Council Common Position of 28 September 1995 (OJ No C 331, 8. 12. 1995, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 13 December 1995 (OJ No C 17, 22. 1. 1996, p. 58). Council Decision of 15 July 1996 and Decision of the European Parliament of 17 July 1996 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(5)

OJ No L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40.

(6)

OJ No L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7.

(7)

[F1 [X1 OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1 . Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 ( OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36 ).

(8)

OJ L 197, 21.7.2001, p. 30 .] ]

(9)

[F1 [X1 OJ L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 6 . Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1 ).

(10)

OJ L 110, 20.4.2001, p. 1 .] ]

(11)

[F4 [X1 OJ L 130, 25.5.1994, p. 1 . Regulation as last amended by the Act of Accession of 2003.

(12)

OJ L 228, 23.9.1995, p. 1 . Regulation as lastamended by Regulation (EC) No 807/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 143, 30.4.2004. p. 46 ).

(13)

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 73 . Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 769/2004 ( OJ L 123, 27.4.2004, p. 1 ).] ]

(14)

OJ No L 54, 25. 2. 1978, p. 16.

(15)

The maps relate to the corresponding sections mentioned in the enacting terms and/or Annex II.

(16)

These critera and specifications refer to the corresponding sections referred to in the enacting terms and/or Annex I.

(17)

A radio-based digital road traffic message system in which the general message stream can be tuned to the individual needs of the road user.

(18)

Airport systems: OJ No L 240, 24. 8. 1992, p. 14.

(19)

[F1 [X1 Including the two high-speed train stations in Rotterdam and Amsterdam which were not included in the project endorsed by the Essen European Council in 1994.

(20)

Including links Lisbon-Porto (2013), Lisbon-Madrid (2010) and Aveiro-Salamanca (2015).

(21)

Parts of this route correspond to pan-European corridor V.

(22)

Including upgrade of ports and airports (2015) as in accordance with the contents endorsed by the Essen/Dublin European Council.

(23)

A further increase in capacity on this line was decided in 2003 and added as a separate project.

(24)

Project completed.

(25)

Project completed.

(26)

A few short sections of road and railway line will be completed between 2010 and 2015.

(27)

Part of this route corresponds to the definition of pan-European corridor VII.

(28)

Including to the Black Sea.

(29)

This major route largely corresponds to the definition of pan-European corridor IV.

(30)

This major route largely corresponds to the definition of pan-European corridor VI.

(31)

Including the TGV Rhin-Rhône, minus the western branch.

(32)

Project No 5 (Betuwe line) links Rotterdam and Emmerich.

(33)

This major route largely corresponds to the definition of pan-European corridor VI.

(34)

Including Essen project No 13: road axis Ireland/United Kingdom/Benelux.] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Official Journal of the European Union L 167 of 30 April 2004).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).

F4 Inserted by Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Decision No 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Text with EEA relevance).