Trans-European Networks (Hansard, 2 December 1999)

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which countries are eligible for the increase in funds in Trans-European Networks, following the Cologne Summit; what is the amount of the increase in funds; if the UK share has been allocated; and if he will make a statement. [100995]

§ Mr. Hill
Regulation (EC) No 1655/99 of 19 July 1999, which amended the 1995 trans-European network (TEN) financing Regulation (2236/95), established a financial framework of euro 4,600 million (about £2,890 million at current exchange rates) for TENs in the fields of transport, telecommunications and energy for the period 2000–2006. The financial framework for the period 1995–1999 was 2,345 million ECU. Any member state, or body within a member state, is entitled to bid for TEN funds to support a project of common interest. The decision to grant aid to a project rests with the Commission, with assistance from a Committee of representatives of member states for each TEN sector. There is no provision for sharing out the budget between the member states.
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§ Mr. Moore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of renegotiation of the Trans-European Networks. [100884]

§ Mr. Hill
The transport trans-European network (TEN) guidelines (Decision No. 1692/96/EC) required the Commission, before 1 July 1999, to submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council indicating whether the guidelines should be adapted. The production of that report has been delayed and its publication is not now anticipated before Easter 2000. The Commission has indicated that, should the report suggest that the guidelines do need to be adapted, it expects to come forward with formal proposals before the end of 2000.

§ Mr. Moore
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will name the schemes which the Government will propose for Trans-European Network funding; and if he will make a statement. [100887]

§ Mr. Hill
Bids for funds from the 2000 transport trans-European network (TEN) budget must be with the Commission by 10 January 2000. Our officials have received a number of proposals and are currently considering which of these should be submitted to the Commission. Ministers will make a decision on the bids later this year. At this stage, it is possible to confirm only that we will submit bids for support for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and for the West Coast Main Line modernisation, as we indicated in our 1998 White Paper on the Future of Transport (Cm 3950).