Sanatarkat istuntoselostukset

Maanantai 28. toukokuuta 2018 - Strasbourg

28. Verkkojen Eurooppa -väline vuoden 2020 jälkeen (keskustelu)

  Presidente. – L'ordine del giorno reca la discussione sulla dichiarazione della Commissione sul Meccanismo per collegare l’Europa dopo il 2020 (2018/2718(RSP)).

  Violeta Bulc, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, thank you for the opportunity to exchange views with you on the European Parliament’s expectations concerning the Connecting Europe Facility after 2020. The Commission plans to adopt its proposal for the new self-regulation on 6 June. The MFF package adopted on 2 May already provides some key orientations concerning the possible design and priorities of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

We all have in mind the high investment needs in transport infrastructure in Europe for the period 2021-2027. We estimate that the TEN-T Core Network development alone will require EUR 350 billion of investments. In addition, we need to tackle much more decisively the challenge of decarbonisation and digitalisation of the transport sector.

The cross-border dimension remains at the basis of the EU added value. However, efficient and interconnected mobility also needs to be smart, sustainable, inclusive, safe and secure. This is why I have proposed to modernise the Connecting European Facility.

CEF is among the very few programmes for which a reinforced budget has been proposed by the Commission. The overall CEF budget proposal amounts to EUR 42.3 billion, of which EUR 30.6 billion would be dedicated to transport.

Our proposal is thus to keep the current budget levels both for the general and for the cohesion envelope with 12.8 billion and 11.3 billion respectively. In addition, we propose to deploy a EUR 6.5 billion budget for transport infrastructure of dual use: civil and military.

I would like to refer to six points raised in the Parliament draft resolution that I consider particularly important. First, on the priorities. I fully agree that it is important to strike the right balance between the development of new infrastructure and the modernisation of the existing infrastructure. On one side, I agree that focus should be maintained on the development of the network, with particular priority on cross-border sections and missing links of the Core Network Corridors. This is clearly where continuity has to be ensured in order to complete the big projects supported by the current programme.

On the other hand, a much stronger and broader emphasis should be put on the modernisation of the existing infrastructure. We currently need to keep up the efforts as regards ERTMS and SESAR to complete the deployment, but digitalisation should also be supported further. We want to accompany the mobility transition towards connected, cooperative, automated and autonomous mobility, as well as modal integration and new mobility services. At the same time, we want to make our network safer, more secure and more resilient to climate change and natural disasters.

For these topics, the geographical differentiation between the comprehensive and Core Network is not always relevant, so we are planning to propose to also cover the comprehensive network where relevant. But this can only be achieved by a team effort – which brings me to my second point, which is synergies between the transport, energy and digital sectors. For instance, on automated mobility we will open possibilities for these synergies. Importantly, while providing a framework that is as open as possible to synergies, we should re-establish a list of areas of topics. This should be done during implementation with sufficient flexibility.

My third point concerns the cohesion envelope. Based on the first positive experience, the Commission has proposed to transfer from the Cohesion Funds an amount of EUR 11.2 billion to the CEF for implementation and direct management according to CEF rules. Of course the cohesion and co-funding rate would apply. However, we are considering a higher rate to apply to cross-border links.

Fourth, I would like briefly to mention InvestEU and blending. In order to streamline the instruments, the Commission has proposed to merge most existing financial instruments into one single investment – InvestEU. It will have a specific window for infrastructure and it will complement the CEF, which in turn will no longer have specific financial instruments. As regards blending, we should keep the possibility to blend CEF grants with InvestEU, but also to use CEF grants in combination with non-EU financial instruments, for instance from commercial or national promotional banks.

My fifth point focuses on the new component of CEF – military mobility. This is an important component of the new initiative proposed in the area of defence. The proposed budget of EUR 6.5 billion would be implemented through CEF to support civil transport infrastructure in order to adapt it to military mobility requirements. In other words, investments necessary for military mobility purposes will also have to be serving fully the needs of civilian mobility.

And finally, my sixth point, on energy. The European Union’s climate commitments require an unprecedented level of investment in energy infrastructure which enables decarbonisation of energy systems. Electricity grids will need to undergo massive reinforcement. Grids will need to become even more digitalised and smarter, to allow for efficient demand management. Some gas grids may be transformed to carry synthetic gas, reduced with surpluses of renewable energy. Therefore, a targeted public financial assistance will continue to be required to deliver the necessary investments. This will be potentially important where the infrastructure includes significant positive externalities such as security of supply, solidarity or innovation.

The CEF has a very important and growing role to play here, so an ambitious financial envelope is required, as well as support for synergy costs as I mentioned before, where transport, energy and/or digital can act together. Furthermore, CEF will be needed to support some more outstanding investments in projects to ensure energy security.

So we are set for an ambitious but realistic future CEF, and I hope I can count on the support from you, the European Parliament, to move it forward.

  Marian-Jean Marinescu, în numele grupului PPE. – Domnule președinte, doamnă comisar, mulțumesc pentru informațiile prezentate. Este evident că infrastructurile de transport, energie și telecomunicații stau la baza dezvoltării economice. Facilitatea de conectare a Europei acum, în acest exercițiu financiar, a fost foarte apreciată atât de statele membre, cât și de Comisie, care a considerat-o un proiect de succes. S-au făcut investiții importante în căi ferate, în SESAR, în aeroporturi. De aceea e surprinzătoare suma alocată pentru această facilitate după 2021, chiar dacă există încă ceva confuzii în cifrele prezentate, atât prin diferența întreprețurile curente și prețurile în termeni reali, cât și prin adunarea la un loc a infrastructurii militare și a instrumentelor financiare. Sper ca regulamentele să clarifice acest lucru.

Însă, vreau să vă reamintesc că în 2011 Comisia a propus pentru această facilitate 50 de miliarde de euro. Suma propusă acum este mai mică decât cea din 2011 și este mai mică și decât cea din actualul exercițiu financiar, pentru transport în special. Pentru energie sau făcută ceva îmbunătățiri și, de asemenea, pentru telecomunicații. Așa că, cred că, trebuie să faceți eforturi până pe 6 iunie, când spuneați că prezentați propunerea de modificare a acestei sume în sprijinul infrastructurii de transport.

  Inés Ayala Sender, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señor presidente, la verdad es que, en este ejercicio, algunos habríamos preferido poder ir todos juntos y no que el señor Marinescu saliera, digamos, en solitario. Por eso, los socialistas hemos preferido ir de la mano con el Grupo liberal y, desde luego, invitar a que sea todo el Parlamento el que tenga finalmente una posición de refuerzo y de petición de un MCE fuerte para el próximo decenio. La verdad es que el anterior, del que estamos en los últimos años, ha sido un caso de éxito en un momento de falta clamorosa de inversión en infraestructuras en Europa durante casi diez años. Precisamente, el valor añadido que ha generado nos ha supuesto una gran ayuda. También, gracias a la energía enorme de la INEA, y hay que reconocérselo.

Sin embargo, de cara al próximo período nos encontramos que hay que ser realistas. Encontramos que hay, de momento, un recorte del 12 % y del 13 %, algo que hay que reconocer y, por lo tanto, la batalla supone reponerlo. En segundo lugar, necesitaríamos unas sinergias urgentes entre transporte y energía, porque los automóviles limpios están ya saliendo de las fábricas y los compradores no saben qué hacer, por dónde y de qué manera administrarlos. Y finalmente, también necesitamos la implementación en los países cuyos programas nacionales no se corresponden con los compromisos europeos. Eso es también urgente.

  Kosma Złotowski, w imieniu grupy ECR. – Panie Przewodniczący! Pani Komisarz! Bardzo się cieszę, że uznała Pani ten program Connecting Europe za bardzo ważny. Był to fundusz, który dobrze służy integracji i modernizacji infrastruktury w Unii Europejskiej. Pytanie o jego przyszłość po roku 2020 to tak naprawdę pytanie o przyszłość sieci transeuropejskich i związanych z nimi projektów regionalnych. Kluczowy element tego przedsięwzięcia – europejskie korytarze transportowe – wciąż jest nieukończony. Niezbędne jest nie tylko stabilne finansowanie tego projektu w kolejnej perspektywie budżetowej, ale także zwiększenie nakładów na inwestycje między innymi w obszarze transportu śródlądowego. Stoją przed nami też nowe wyzwania, na które potrzebne są środki: rzeczywiste a nie tylko pozorne przejście na niskoemisyjne środki transportu, rozwój autonomicznej mobilności oraz cały pakiet ambitnych celów jakie Komisja stawia sobie w trzeciej części pakietu mobilności. Connecting Europe (...) całej architektury finansowania inwestycji infrastrukturalnych, która może być poważnie zagrożona przez drastyczne cięcia w polityce spójności. Instrument „Łącząc Europę” nie może paść ofiarą tej samej polityki oszczędności. Innymi słowy: więcej pieniędzy, Pani Komisarz.

  Pavel Telička, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Mr President, I am looking forward to negotiating the joint motion for a resolution with my colleagues tomorrow. I am sure that we are going to have a good paper and I hope that the Commission will take it seriously. You personally should take it as support for your efforts.

There will be a number of invitations, challenges and also negative signals. One has already been mentioned. CEF is a success story. We are doing very well and are oversubscribed, but if we look at the allocation of financial means, in constant prices we have 12 to 13, respectively, percent cuts. This is something that this House and the majorities in this House will not understand. Taking into account the question of assessment, where we could also do better from the side of the European coordinators is in really assessing the actual progress that is being made so that we can show it to our citizens. It is not a question of how much money has been allocated, but what the real result is.

I will make three brief remarks. Firstly, regarding the complex relationship with Horizon 2020 or EFSI, this has to be our focus. Secondly, yes to blending. I think we have got some positive results. Let’s work on it with public money. Thirdly, I think that we need to understand that there is basically an excess of everything, that is: use it or lose it. That is the reason why this programme has been successful.

My apologies for going over my allocated time.

  Νεοκλής Συλικιώτης, εξ ονόματος της ομάδας GUE/NGL. – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, εάν αξιοποιηθεί σωστά το πρόγραμμα «Συνδέοντας την Ευρώπη» μπορεί πραγματικά να συμβάλει στη δημιουργία των αναγκαίων υποδομών ενέργειας και μεταφορών που είναι ζωτικής σημασίας για τους λαούς της Ευρώπης. Απαιτείται λοιπόν να πάψουν οι περικοπές και να σταματήσει να διατίθεται μέρος του κονδυλίου στο Ευρωπαϊκό Ταμείο Στρατηγικών Επενδύσεων, το οποίο, αντί να προωθεί έργα δημοσίου συμφέροντος, επενδύει εκεί που συμφέρει τους ιδιώτες επενδυτές. Το σημαντικότερο όμως είναι να μη χρησιμοποιηθεί το πρόγραμμα αυτό για την περαιτέρω στρατιωτικοποίηση της Ένωσης μέσω της χρηματοδότησης υποδομών μεταφοράς για βελτίωση της στρατιωτικής κινητικότητας, όπως έχει εξαγγείλει η Επιτροπή. Στόχος πρέπει να είναι να προωθούνται έργα που έχει πραγματικά ανάγκη η κοινωνία, τα οποία θα συμβάλουν στην ενίσχυση της περιφερειακής συνοχής, στη μακροπρόθεσμη ανάπτυξη, καθώς και στη δημιουργία νέων ποιοτικών θέσεων εργασίας, ενώ ταυτόχρονα θα πληρούν όλους τους περιβαλλοντικούς κανόνες. Μια σημαντική προτεραιότητα είναι να προωθηθούν έργα για άρση της απομόνωσης στην οποία είναι καταδικασμένα ορισμένα κράτη και περιοχές στην Ένωση.

  Wim van de Camp (PPE). – Voorzitter, wij hebben vanavond te maken met een zeer succesvol programma. Het zogenaamde CEF-programma gaat niet alleen over transport, maar ook over energie en telecom. Ik denk dat we de afgelopen periode hebben bewezen dat dit een van de beste investeringsprogramma's is die de Europese Unie kent. Het gaat hier namelijk niet over subsidies of over overdrachtsuitgaven, maar puur om goede investeringen in de toekomst van diezelfde Europese Unie.

Dit debat vanavond, meneer de Voorzitter, is bedoeld om commissaris Bulc de laatste push te geven om dat CEF-programma overeind te houden en om wat mijn collega Marinescu zei zo mogelijk uit te breiden. Dit gaat echt over de toekomst van de EU en het is meer dan de moeite waard om daar vanavond op dit late tijdstip nog een debat aan te wijden.

  Isabella De Monte (S&D). – Signor Presidente, gentile Commissaria, onorevoli colleghi, un discorso sui fondi destinati al meccanismo per collegare l'Europa non può che essere fatto sul lungo termine. Sappiamo bene, infatti, che quando si parla di progetti infrastrutturali, le risorse necessarie sono ingenti e gli stanziamenti necessitano di una ineccepibile pianificazione.

Per questo motivo, credo che la dotazione del CEF debba essere non solo ripristinata, ma debba essere implementata al fine di concludere almeno i progetti del core network del TEN-T. Serve quindi un cambio netto dopo i tagli che sono stati effettuati per finanziare l'EFSI.

Sono dell'idea che l'unificazione europea sia anche un fattore fisico, e mai come in questo momento abbiamo bisogno di una rete che ci assicuri lo sviluppo, la crescita, la connettività territoriale anche nelle zone remote.

E infine l'Europa deve mantenere, io dico, il controllo non solo sui corridoi ma sull'intera rete logistica in generale.

  Massimiliano Salini (PPE). – Signor Presidente, signora Commissaria, onorevoli colleghi, la risoluzione proposta dal collega Marinescu sul CEF è realmente orientata a realizzare una delle priorità assolute dell'Unione europea: garantire connettività e garantire innovazione.

Il pregio del CEF in questi sette anni è stato quello di garantire, oltre ad una potenza di fuoco enorme sugli investimenti per le infrastrutture, garantire appunto uno spazio per l'innovazione nell'ambito della C-ITS, i carburanti alternativi, tutto quello spazio di cui abbiamo bisogno anche per la sfida della digitalizzazione e della decarbonizzazione.

Quindi un piano completo e riuscito. Quindi non si giustificano tagli alle risorse, ma io aggiungo un elemento. L'elemento riguarda non solo la quantità di risorse, ma la tipologia della struttura del meccanismo, perché anche quella ha funzionato ed è utile mantenerla. Quindi finanziamenti a fondo perduto e un board direttivo indipendente. Anche questi aspetti di metodo dovranno essere oggetto della nostra attenzione.

Procedura "catch-the-eye"

  Francisco José Millán Mon (PPE). – Señor presidente, señora comisaria, las infraestructuras de transporte son un elemento fundamental de la acción de la Unión Europea y uno de los más visibles.

El Mecanismo «Conectar Europa» (MCE) tiene un alto valor añadido europeo: las inversiones en infraestructuras mejoran la competitividad; refuerzan la cohesión económica, social y territorial; permiten la conectividad y el acceso al mercado interior de las regiones más periféricas; son un motor de crecimiento.

Por ello, el MCE tiene que reforzarse en el ámbito del transporte para poder completar la red básica en 2030.

Yo quiero subrayar especialmente la necesidad de aumentar la conectividad de las regiones y puertos de la fachada atlántica de la Unión Europea. Para ello es indispensable incorporar nuevos tramos al corredor atlántico del MCE.

Por consiguiente, yo le pido, señora comisaria, que en la revisión del MCE que está efectuando estos días, incluya las modificaciones del corredor atlántico presentadas por el Gobierno de España y que afecten al noroeste de la península ibérica.

Finalmente, espero que la dotación presupuestaria del MCE pueda estar a la altura de las necesidades de esta importantísima iniciativa.

  Νότης Μαριάς (ECR). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, ο μηχανισμός «Συνδέοντας την Ευρώπη» μετά το 2020 είναι πράγματι σημαντικός. Όμως, πρώτα από όλα, απαιτεί κονδύλια. Για τον λόγο αυτό δεν πρέπει να υπάρξει καμία μείωση κονδυλίων. Πρέπει να δοθεί έμφαση στη συνδεσιμότητα και την καινοτομία. Ταυτόχρονα όμως πρέπει να υπάρξει ενίσχυση των χωρών και των περιοχών, οι οποίες είναι απομονωμένες. Αυτό ισχύει, ιδιαίτερα, για την Ελλάδα, η οποία είναι στο ακρότατο σημείο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, αλλά επίσης και για τα νησιά του Αιγαίου, τα οποία έχουν κυριολεκτικά αποκοπεί. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό πρέπει να υπάρξει ρύθμιση για το λεγόμενο μεταφορικό ισοδύναμο και να υπάρξει χρηματοδότηση των λειτουργικών ενεργειών και δράσεων για το μεταφορικό ισοδύναμο μέσα από το πρόγραμμα Περιφερειακής Ανάπτυξης. Ταυτόχρονα, συμφωνώ με την έμφαση για νέες υποδομές ή τον εκσυγχρονισμό των υποδομών που υπάρχουν αυτή τη στιγμή.

  Xabier Benito Ziluaga (GUE/NGL). – Señor presidente, podríamos llamar al Mecanismo «Conectar Europa» «el Fondo para las infraestructuras inútiles e impuestas», y explico por qué. En los últimos cuatro años, este Mecanismo ha destinado 1 200 millones de euros a infraestructuras del contaminante gas fósil. Además, la mayor inversión se destinará a la interconexión eléctrica entre España y Francia por el golfo de Bizkaia y cabe recalcar que esta interconexión ha recibido, por su lado, 578 millones de euros, pero, por parte de la ciudadanía, ha recibido 6 800 alegaciones en contra.

En Gatika y en Bizkaia numerosos colectivos se están organizando contra él. Y motivos no faltan. La interconexión tiene un alto riesgo de sobrecostes que pagarán la gente y las empresas: según un informe de los propios reguladores, con todas las infraestructuras planificadas las tarifas aumentarán un 3,5 %.

La interconexión tampoco ayudará en absoluto a las renovables: por ejemplo, con la entrada de la interconexión por Cataluña, se multiplicaron por seis las restricciones a los parques eólicos. Si quieren ayudar, de verdad, a la entrada de las renovables, plantéense el final del carbón y de la energía nuclear.

  Andrey Novakov (PPE). – Mr President, I believe that we do not need a budget to advertise the European Union. It is enough to promote the results that the Connecting Europe Facility is producing, because on our European roads there is more politics than tarmac, I believe. We all agree here that the biggest cause of car accidents is bottlenecks, and at the same time, the best tool we can provide to solve bottlenecks is the Connecting Europe Facility. We all agree here that we have to complete the trans-European transport (TEN-T) core network. We all agree that we need half a trillion to complete that network, and still we do not provide a sufficient budget for the Connecting Europe Facility. I think we should do better than this. Although at the moment we have to agree that the progress made in the Connecting Europe Facility is significant, I believe we should create additional tools of influence to the Member States in order to push them to make it possible to complete the TEN-T network as soon as possible.

  João Pimenta Lopes (GUE/NGL). – Senhor Presidente, a Comissão prossegue a sua estratégia de dourar a pílula das políticas que propõe. Sobram adjetivos, mas a prática não acompanha o vosso discurso. Instrumentos como o mecanismo “Interligar a Europa” ou a dita rede transeuropeia de transportes têm servido de sorvedouro de dinheiros públicos para o setor privado ou alimentado as nefastas parcerias público-privadas, estratégias políticas que promoveram a privatização da oferta pública de serviços, o desinvestimento nos equipamentos e infraestruturas, a degradação e o encarecimento do serviço prestado às populações, a precarização das relações laborais.

A Sra. Comissária falou de um pacote financeiro que permita respostas determinantes para o desenvolvimento do setor. Promessas espúrias, quando sabemos a machadada orçamental que a Comissão prepara para o próximo QFP, nomeadamente no que à coesão diz respeito que, já há muito o sabemos, nunca foi o objetivo real da União Europeia.

Exige-se o aumento dos fundos para a coesão livres de condicionalidades, permitindo a países como Portugal fortes investimentos públicos no setor, políticas e respostas públicas que sirvam as necessidades das populações e do desenvolvimento do país.

(Fine della procedura "catch-the-eye")

  Violeta Bulc, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, honourable Members, thank you very much for this debate, which demonstrates again the positive aspects of the current Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the common willingness to reinforce the instrument after 2020, both in terms of budget and priorities. The period after 2020 will be crucial to ensure the successful delivery of the TEN-T core network within the given deadline by 2030. Various improvements to CEF 2.0 will significantly contribute to achieving these goals. I have, in particular, taken note of your interests, priorities and synergies concerning the support for infrastructure projects. Let me elaborate on some of your comments.

First, regarding the CEF budget. The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal incorporates an ambitious proposal for the future of CEF, which is among the very few programmes with a reinforced budget, amounting to a total of EUR 30.6 billion for 2021-2027, circa 20% more compared to the current period 2014-2020. Not only has the MFF proposal preserved existing elements of CEF in the general and cohesion envelope; the CEF has been further reinforced with a new pillar of military mobility. During the difficult times surrounding the withdrawal of the UK, this is an impressive achievement, showing that the CEF has been recognised by the Commission as an effective instrument, adding real value to the European single market. Let me stress here again that all the money allocated to military mobility is allocated to dual use; all the infrastructure is civil infrastructure used for civil purposes and then reinforced also for military mobility.

On synergies: synergies between transport, energy and the digital sector will be implemented through a joint work programme, jointly financed and with the possibility to apply to the highest co-funding rate in the sector concerned. We are yet to define clear criteria under which the synergies will be taking place.

Again, let me stress that the ‘use it or lose it’ principle will remain part of CEF. This was one of the most successful principles. It allowed us such a high level of delivery that, already in the first three years of this Commission, our deployment achieved more than 90%.

One last comment regarding the priority projects that was raised by a respectful Member. Let me say that many of the Member States proposed new sections. We could not take all on board, but many of them will be taken on board, only of course those that were aligned with the Annex of the Regulation.

Finally, thank you very much again for allowing me to introduce the initial structure of our proposal that is coming in the first week of June. Thank you very much also for your support. I will ask you to continue to demonstrate it, and I really look forward to continuing discussing it in the coming months, in close coordination with my colleagues in charge of the energy and digital sectors, to allow swift progress on this very important file.

  Presidente. – La discussione è chiusa.

La votazione si svolgerà giovedì 31 maggio 2018.

Dichiarazioni scritte (articolo 162)

  Cristian-Silviu Buşoi (PPE), in writing. – The development of transport infrastructure is currently fragmented across the European Union with repercussions on territorial cohesion and economic growth. Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is one of the main instruments that aims to address this shortage by focusing on facilitating cross-border connections, leveraging funding from both the public and the private sectors. CEF Transport triggered successfully already EUR 41.6 billion of total investments by 2017 and statistics indicates that every billion euros invested in the TEN-T core network creates up to 20 000 new jobs. Therefore, the instrument brings a massive EU value added, enhancing cohesion, long-term sustainable growth and economic competitiveness. It also contributes considerably to the EU’s achievement of decarbonizing its economy in the context of the Paris Agreement. I stress the importance that Member States and the European Commission remain committed to the CEF’s main policy objectives, especially with regards to completing the TEN-T core network and the European Rail Traffic Management Systems (ERTMS). Lastly, in the context of the next Multi-annual Financial Framework 2021-2017, I underline the importance of ensuring proper investments for digital and innovative transport projects and further reinforce CEF instrument by ensuring complementarity with other programs such as the InvestEU Fund or Horizon Europe.