Priority Projects

Based on the proposals from the Member States, there have been identified 30 Priority Projects which are included in the guidelines for the development of the TEN-T as projects of European interest.

The Priority Projects were chosen both according to their European added-value and their contribution to the sustainable development of transport. Their completion - planned for 2020 - will improve the economic efficiency of the European transport system and provide direct benefits for European citizens.

Of these 30 key projects, 18 are railway projects, 3 are mixed rail-road projects, 2 are inland waterway transport projects and one refers to Motorways of the Sea. This choice reflects a high priority to more environmentally friendly transport modes, contributing to the fight against climate change.

There has been a firm commitment on behalf of the Member States and the European Union to deliver these key Priority Projects and they have been at the centre of the European Union's efforts - both financially and in terms of coordination. In July 2005 the European Commission has in particular designated a group of nine eminent European Coordinators to evaluate the progress of certain TEN-T Priority Projects, to make recommendations for the effective implementation of these projects and to play a major role in advancing the works.

The 30 Priority Projects are:

PP1 Railway axis Berlin-Verona/Milano-Bologna-Napoli-Messina-Palermo

PP2 High-speed railway axis Paris-Bruxelles/Brussel-Köln-Amsterdam-London: PBKAL

PP3 High-speed railway axis of southwest Europe

PP4 High-speed railway axis east

PP5 Betuwe line: COMPLETED 2007

PP6 Railway axis Lyon-Trieste-Divaca/Koper-Divaca-Ljubljana-Budapest-Ukrainian border

PP7 Motorway axis Igoumenitsa/Patra-Athina-Sofia-Budapest

PP8 Multimodal axis Portugal/Spain-rest of Europe

PP9 Railway axis Cork–Dublin–Belfast–Stranraer: COMPLETED 2001

PP10 Malpensa airport: COMPLETED 2001

PP11 Øresund bridge: COMPLETED 2000