EC: Strengthening Transport Cooperation with Neighboring Countries

The European Commission adopted on Wednesday a Communication on "Guidelines for transport in Europe and neighboring regions". It outlines an ambitious policy in view of creating an effective transport market involving the EU and its neighbors and of spreading the principles of internal market. The Communication identifies the five most important transport axes for international trade between the Union and the neighboring countries and beyond.

The five transnational axes are:

• Motorways of the Seas: to link the Baltic, Barents, Atlantic (including Outermost Regions of Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira), Mediterranean, Black and the Caspian Sea areas as well as the littoral countries within the sea areas and with an extension through the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea;
• Northern axis: to connect the northern EU with Norway to the north and with Belarus and Russia to the east. A connection to the Barents region linking Norway through Sweden and Finland with Russia is also foreseen;
• Central axis: to link the centre of the EU to Ukraine and the Black Sea and through an inland waterway connection to the Caspian Sea. A direct connection from Ukraine to the Trans-Siberian railway and a link from the Don/Volga inland waterway to the Baltic Sea are also included;
• South Eastern axis: to link the EU with the Balkans and Turkey and further with the Southern Caucasus and the Caspian Sea as well as with the Middle East up to Egypt and the Red Sea;
• South Western axis: to connect the south-western EU with Switzerland and Morocco, including the trans-Maghrebin link connecting Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and its extension to Egypt.

In order to make this policy a reality and boost cooperation between the European Union and the neighboring regions, the Commission will launch exploratory talks with all the countries concerned.

"The extension of the trans-European Networks to the Balkans and Turkey will give a new impetus for economic development in the region. The prospect of improved infrastructure, simplified procedures and plans to cut the red tape promote trade and business contacts and closer integration to Europe" said Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement.