Bulletin of the European Union Supplement 2/94 Growth, competitiveness and employment White Paper follow-up Report on Europe and the global information society Interim report on trans-European networks Progress report on employment Extracts of the conclusions of the Presidency of the Corfu European Council This document reproduces the trans-European networks report on pages 42-102 and the Presidency conclusions on pages 126- 134. The other two reports are available as separate documents on AEI-EU. Blank page not reproduced: 44 46, and 48. European Commission Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1994 ISBN 92-826-8547- (Q ECSC-EC-EAEC, Brussels 0 Luxembourg, 1994 Reproduction is authorized, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged Printed in Germany General contents Europe and the global information society Recommendations of the high..1evel group on the information society to the Corfu European Council (Bangemann group) Trans-European networks Interim report of the chairman of the group of personal representatives of the Heads of State or Government to the Corfu European Council (Christophersen group) Progress report on employment 103 Results of Mr Flynn s tour of capitals Extracts of the conclusions of the Presidency of the Corfu European Council (24 and 25 June 1994) 125 S. 2/94 Trans-European networks Interim report of the chairman of the group of personal representatives of the Heads of State or Government to the Corfu European Council (Christophersen group) Contents Foreword Conclusions Part one: Work under way The political context Recent developments Areas where action is called for Aims and working methods of the group Transport networks Energy networks Environment Extending the networks to third countries Part two: The way ahead Problems to be overcome Regulatory framework Financing Appendices 1. List of the personal representatives of the Heads of State or Government 2. List of transport priority projects 3. Description of the transport priority projects 4. List of energy projects 5. Description of the energy projects S. 2/94 Foreword The European Council in December 1993 invited the Commission, assisted by a group of personal representatives of the Heads of State or Government, to lead and coordinate the speedy and efficient implementation of trans-European networks in transport and energy. In presenting, on behalf of the Commission, this interim report on the work of the group of personal representatives, I am pleased first of .all to convey my personal conviction that the implementation of trans-European networks is gathering momentum. The task that the Union and the Member States have undertaken consists first of all in identifying and accelerating projects considered to be of priority importance. Secondly, the task involves improving conditions for implementation of trans- European networks in the future, i.e. creating better conditions in the regulatory frameworks and for attracting private financing. In this sense, the task has the wider objective of creating structural improvements of a permanent nature. In both areas, there are prospects for significant progress. While it is true that large infrastructure projects inevitably take a long time to prepare, launch and complete it can already now be stated that the work initiated simultaneously in Member States, at the Union level in a broad sense and among private operators has clear and positive synergy effects. In this respect, the group has made a significant contribution. Considerable work still needs to be done, mainly in the fields of the regulatory framework and financing. Furthermore, I would like to emphasize the high priority attached by the group to the question of extending the trans-European networks towards third countries. The report is intended to give an account of the proceedings of the group up to its last meeting on 3 June 1994, as well as a brief description of the two main areas of importance for the implementation of large infrastructure projects, i.e. the regulatory framework and financing. The interim report is drawn up on the chairman s responsibility. It has, however met with broad consensus among the group members. In addition, the group has drawn up the following common conclusions. Henning CHRISTOPHERSEN S. 2/94 Conclusions In view of the results of the work of the group of personal representatives in identifying priority projects of Community interest and without prejudging the future work of the group in this respect, the European Council is invited to: acknowledge the priority status for the European Community of the list transport projects so far identified by the group (Appendix 2), provided they continue to meet the economic viability and other criteria on which the projects have been selected; take note of the list of priority energy projects (Appendix 4) which is still subject to further examination by the group; recommend to the Member States that they facilitate the implementation of these projects by accelerating the administrative, regulatory and legal procedures and processes that are at present delaying them. The group of personal representatives has made significant progress in carrying out the task given to it by the European Council at its meeting in Brussels in December 1993. Its work however is not yet finished. It is therefore further proposed to the European Council to confirm the mandate of the group until the Essen European Council and to instruct it in particular to: complete the assessment of the projects and their priority status taking full advantage of the professional input of the EIB in order to establish a final list; facilitate and monitor the work of the project seminars convened by the European Commission, with the full involvement of the EIB, gathering, as appropriate, interested parties, both public and private; assist the Commission in appraising the most appropriate ways and means to respond effectively to the problems identified as holding up full realization of individual projects; study the problems arising from the regulatory framework, both at Community level and in Member States with a view to overcoming or alleviating administrative obstacles; assessing, taking full advantage of EIB expertise and the findings of the project seminars, appropriate forms of financial engineering encouraging the participation of the private sector whenever possible; contribute to the assessment of financial needs and instruments according to the timescales and the financing plans of the identified priority projects; study further the extension of the TENs to neighbouring countries, in particular to Central and East European countries and the Mediterranean Basin. S. 2/94 Part one: Work under way The political context The trans-European networks (TENs) have re- The Action Plan agreed at the meeting of the cently received increasing attention. This is re- European Council in December includes specific flected in the growing references to them in the action to be taken by the Union and the Member conclusions of past European Councils and in States on trans-European networks. The overall the Treaty of European Union, Title XII. In its objective is the speedy completion of the TENs White Paper ' Growth, Competitiveness, Em- with a view to the efficient operation of the ployment' the Commission proposed the accel- single market; to reinforcing the Union s com- eration of the trans-European networks as one of petitiveness, regional planning and the links with the major development themes. The European neighbouring countries; and to contributing to Council last December confirmed this approach faster and safer means of communication for the and took a series of important decisions aimed at citizen. accelerating the implementation of the TEN. One of these decisions was to create a special The White Paper also outlines some of the group of personal representatives of Heads of obstacles to the implementation of TENs. State or Government to assist the Commission in its task as regards transport and energy network 0 The constraints on the Community s and the infrastructures. The work of this group and the Member States' public budgets limit the scope of present interim report are to be seen in this investment by the public sector. general political context. As a result of the foregoing, the general public 0 The long-term investment required in some the media, national and regional administrations sectors, particularly in transport infrastructures interested industrial and financial operators have necessitates new types of partnerships between shown increasing interest in TENs, on the need private and public financing. for their implementation and on the Union determination to speed up and facilitate their The absence of open and competitive mar- development. kets is hampering, to differing degrees, the optional use of existing networks and their completion in the interest both of consumers and Ip;&-4dFurthermore, a favourable climate for operators. partnership between Member States, the Uniop institutions, the world of business and banking and operators is developing. The Union has 0 The inherent sluggishness of the preparation made it clear that it welcomes the emergence of planning, authorization and evaluation proce- partnerships between the private and the public dures and regulatory obstacles hamper the sector in the realization of TENs. implementation of large projects. The Commission s