European groups ask for transport budget safeguards

   A broad range of European transport organizations this week urged the European parliament to safeguard a 32 billion euro budget allocated to transport infrastructure between 2014 and 2020.
   “Achieving a complete and integrated resource-efficient and sustainable transport network, covering and interconnecting all modes, member states and regions must be seen as an essential investment to create growth and jobs in the European Union,” the groups wrote in a joint letter.
   The coalition includes European maritime and inland port authorities; airport operators; inland waterway, maritime, rail, road, and air transport companies; infrastructure managers, operators, port and logistic service providers; shippers; cyclists; chambers of commerce; and transport workers.
   “The transport industry directly employs around 10 million people in the EU and counts for about 5 percent of GDP,” the letter said. “ When related industries (manufacturing, servicing, maintenance, etc.) are included, these figures can be doubled. Besides, transport is one of the sectors where European companies are world leaders in infrastructure, logistics, traffic management systems and manufacturing of transport equipment.”
   The industry groups said it will require much more than the 32 billion euros earmarked to better connect Europe.
   “If the EU wants a transport infrastructure network that can meet traffic demand and support economic activity, it will need at least 250 billion euros by 2020, according to European Commission estimates. This sum will remove bottlenecks and complete missing links in the core network,” the letter said. “The European transport industry is very concerned that not enough funds will be available to cover investment needs. The 32 billion euros earmarked by the European Commission to the core Network in the Connecting Europe Facility, only covers a small share of the investment needs.
   “Notwithstanding the budgetary constraints all governments face at the moment, we all know transport infrastructure investments pay off in the long run.”