Ports call on EU to protect TEN-T budget

The budget of €31.7bn has already been earmarked for European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). But with the likelihood of budgetary constraints looming, both the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) and the European Seaports Organisation (ESPO) are asking for this figure not to be cut.

EFIP director Isabelle Ryckbost said it would be “a shame” if the budget were cut: “In that case, the governments will have to prepare a ‘plan B’ and look for other, probably more difficult and costly means to meet Europe’s targets in terms of growth, sustainability and jobs.”

Patrick Verhoeven, ESPO secretary general, points out that it seems that the fight for the budget this time seems to have pitted transport against other policies such as cohesion and agriculture.

“We should however keep in mind that transport infrastructure projects do not only serve the transport industry and its stakeholders”, he said. “A seamless European transport network in the first place strengthens the internal cohesion of the EU and facilitates many other sectors, including agriculture. Seaports are the main gateways for EU exports of agricultural products. Using EU funding to integrate ports in the TEN-T therefore also benefits cohesion and agricultural policy.”

Back in the spring, EFIP and ESPO took the lead in a campaign set up by 28 European transport organisations to secure the TEN-T budget. Both organisations are encouraging their members to sign a declaration that was initiated by EC Commission vice-president, Siim Kallas, a few weeks ago.

More information is available from the Commission’s website