The European Commission announced at the start of the month the investment scenario of € 695.1 million 'in 49 key projects to develop sustainable and innovative transport infrastructures in Europe in all modes of transport'. Such projects will ensure the implementation of infrastructures capable of generating 'greater use of alternative fuels and electric cars', of boosting the modernization of 'air traffic management' and of 'further developing maritime and inland waterway transport'.

 

'Our investment plan for Europe is being implemented: today we are proposing to invest EUR 700 million in 49 key transport projects through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which will enable us across Europe and firmly pursuing the EU's employment and growth agenda ', with the expectation that this would unlock' € 2.4 billion in private and state co-financing ', added Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport .

 

According to the document, which was published by Cargo magazine, the bulk of the funding will be allocated 'to the modernization of European air traffic management' - with € 290.3 million allocated - and to 'the development of innovative projects and new technologies for transport ', amounting to € 209.5 million, not to mention the' modernization of the rail network, shipping links and ports and inland waterways', amounting to € 103.6 million.

 

According to the document, a slightly higher value than EUR 250 million (from the CEF mechanism) will be used to design 26 initiatives 'dedicated to the development of new transport technologies, in particular by promoting alternative fuels'. These projects contribute to the creation of 'a Single European Sky through the modernization of European air traffic management in 23 Member States of the EU and Serbia' for the 'modernization of the Ampsin-Neuville locks complex in the Middle Meuse river, in Belgium 'and for' the modernization of the seaports of HaminaKotka and Leixões'.

 

The so-called 'Connecting Europe' funding call (called Blending Call), launched on 8 February 2017, 'adopts an innovative approach, providing an indicative budget of € 1.35 billion be combined with European Investment Fund (EIF), European Investment Bank (EIB), National Prosecuting Banks or private sector investors, "the report said.

 

According to the European Commission, 69 requests for co-financing were received in this second call requesting a total of EUR 1 billion - of which 35 projects were selected totaling EUR 404.8 million. It reminded the Commission that the CEF Transport SESAR call (launched in October 2017) 'aims to modernize ATM and provide a high performance ATM infrastructure that will enable the safe, efficient and environmentally friendly operation and development of air transport'.

 

Source, Revista Cargo.