§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what capital projects are to be funded, partially or fully, by the EU TEN programme. [2160]
§ Mr. WattsThe European Community's financing regulation for TENs provides for the funding of transport and other capital projects in the period 1995–1999. Funding decisions will be taken on an annual basis and so far only the funds for 1995 have been allocated.
505WIn line with the conclusions of the Cannes European Council, just over 75 per cent. of the 1995 funds have been allocated to the 14 priority projects identified by the Essen Council, which are:
- High speed rail/combined transport link, Berlin-Verona
- High speed rail link, Paris-Brussels-Cologne-Amsterdam-London (includes CTRL)
- High speed rail, Madrid-Montpelier
- Betuwe line (rail/combined transport), Netherlands-Germany
- High speed rail/combined transport, Lyon-Turin-Trieste
- High speed rail, France-Germany
- Greek motorway schemes
- Motorway, Lisbon-Valladolid
- Railway/combined transport, Cork-Dublin-Larne
- Malpensa Airport (Milan)
- Oresund fixed link, Denmark-Sweden
- The Nordic triangle (road and rail)
- High speed rail, West Coast Main Line
- Ireland-UK-Benelux Road Link
The remaining 25 per cent. has been allocated to over 50 other priority projects, mostly involving traffic management studies.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced the 1995 allocation of TENs funding to the UK in his reply to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) on 26 October, Official Report column 732.
TENs funding for 1996 and beyond cannot be decided until the transport guidelines have been adopted by the European Council and European Parliament. We will, however, shortly be consulting with interested parties as to what schemes might be included in the UK's 1996 bid.