Development of a transport infrastructure in the new EU Member States and the misuse of environmental management for advancing partial economic interests

20.9.2011

Question for written answer E-008588/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Richard Falbr (S&D)

A modern European transport infrastructure is a precondition for maintaining the EU's competitiveness in today's globalised world and is essential also in view of the future growth in transport. Underdevelopment of transport links is most marked in the new Member States as compared with the EU‑15 countries. However, the enforcement of a strict environmental management policy is preventing the new EU Member States from catching up in the development of transport links, which will perpetuate the economic gap between these countries and the old EU‑15. The question arises whether this might not be a deliberate move aimed at making the new EU Member States less competitive than the EU‑15. If the present environmental protection regulations had been in force in the past, the current transport infrastructure in the EU‑15 countries would not have been created at all. This trend is very marked in Central Europe, where environmental protection is being misused to suppress intermodal competition between the different transport sectors. This phenomenon is significant in the case of the development of inland waterway transport on the Oder and Elbe rivers. These former transport arteries are in decline in order to ensure that this mode of transport does not compete with road transport, but especially also with rail transport and does not create pressure on transport tariffs, as is the case, for example, on the Rhine, where intermodal competition reduces transport costs and contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of the area. Similar problems have been noted in the construction of strategic motorways.

Does the Commission intend to create the conditions for developing a transport infrastructure taking account of the environmental problems for the new Member States that will allow them to close the gap more rapidly with the rest of the EU?

Does the Commission intend to lay down rules to prohibit unfair practices in intermodal competition that abuse environmental protection legislation?

OJ C 154 E, 31/05/2012