Revitalising the development of rail infrastructure along the Adriatic coast
15.1.2020
Priority question for written answer P-000233/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Chiara Gemma (NI), Laura Ferrara (NI), Isabella Adinolfi (NI), Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI), Dino Giarrusso (NI), Mario Furore (NI), Daniela Rondinelli (NI), Sabrina Pignedoli (NI), Rosa D'Amato (NI)
There are still critical gaps in rail transport in southern Italy and numerous local initiatives calling for high-speed trains continue to be organised, in particular to persuade the national government and the EU to introduce high-speed rail in the Adriatic regions, too. While, as regards the Irpinia-Orsara section (total estimated cost: EUR 1.5 billion), the completion of the budgetary package has been included in the 2018-2019 update of the programme contract, approved by the CIPE and pending the opinion of the Court of Auditors, the precise details of the funding relating to the Adriatic section are lacking. Of the funds already allocated, EUR 400 million are from the EU’s ERDF Regional Operational Programme (ROP) funds for 2014-2020.
Can the Commission therefore answer the following questions:
- 1.Also in view of the fact that, in 2015, Parliament voted to request an extension of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor along the Adriatic coast, as part of the TEN-T programme, can the Commission check in detail which EU programmes have so far been involved in the development of rail connections in southern Italy, and using what budget?
- 2.What tangible measures does the Commission intend to take in order to revive the development of this network in areas such as southern Italy, where, all too often, people have no access to such infrastructure?