TEN-T and Cohesion Policy

The provision of efficient, flexible, safe and sustainable transport infrastructure may be regarded as a necessary precondition to economic development as it boosts productivity and therefore the development prospects of the regions concerned by facilitating the movement of people and goods.

The development of the trans-European transport networks is among the priorities for the assistance of the Cohesion Policy. Investments in transport infrastructures have been identified among the priority areas of the Union's renewed Lisbon growth and jobs Strategy.

To support the development of sustainable transport infrastructure, Cohesion Policy will dedicate some € 38 billion to Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) projects on the road, rail and inland waterways over the period 2007-2013 and will provide financing for secondary connections to improve access to the TEN-Ts. Moreover, some € 6.2 billion will be dedicated to Ports, Airports and Intelligent Transport Services, most of them being TEN-T projects and totalling approximately € 44.2 billion to TEN-T development.

Information on the regulations stabilising general and specific provisions for the Funds

• The means of the Cohesion Policy :

o Cohesion Fund

o ERDF – European Regional Development Fund

o EGTC – European grouping of territorial cooperation

• The Council Regulation (EC) N° 1083/2006 lays down general provisions of the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund.

• Cohesion policy finances, through IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) core-network transport projects in accession countries.

• Most of the TEN-T projects financed by Cohesion policy are Major Projects i.e. transport projects of which total costs exceed EUR 50 million.

• JASPERS (Joint Assistance in Supporting Projects in European Regions) will help the authorities of the Member States in the preparation of Major projects, in regions covered by the Convergence Objective, for submission to the Commission.

Transport infrastructures - TEN-T

TEN-T and Cohesion Policy

Transport infrastructures - TEN-T