Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget
Streamlining TEN-T implementation
Opinion factsheet
Na ovoj stranici
- Transport
Opinion number:
CDR-3592-2018
Status:
Usvojeno
Objective
The opinion addresses simplification of administrative authorisations, permit granting rules and other regulatory procedures in order to facilitate the TEN-T completion. It also focuses on the problems cross-border projects encounter in relation to public procurement and permit granting procedures.
Impact
On 16 November 2018 the progress report of the Council Working Party on Transport highlighted that "the proposal's compatibility with the principle of subsidiarity was questioned by a number of Member States." They also questioned, "how a single competent authority at national level in charge of the permit-granting procedures was to be implemented in practice and what impact it would have on local and regional authorities". The CoR opinion has highlighted this tricky question of creating yet another layer that should be unique for all countries, irrespective of their internal institutional set-up.
On 13 February 2019, the EP adopted its position. The most important similarity with the CoR opinion is that it introduces the possibility for a Member State to delegate the competence (of a single competent authority) to a more appropriate level, as long as the principle of 'single point of contact' is observed.
On 4 March 2019, the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) published a study on the subject, highlighting the CoR opinion's position that "a tailor-made approach should be possible where Member States already have streamlined procedures in place". This is in line with the above position expressed by the European Parliament.
On 2 December 2019, the Council adopted a general approach, changing the legal nature of the proposal from a regulation to a directive, to give Member States more flexibility. The draft directive would cover projects that are part of pre-identified cross-border links and missing links of the TEN-T core network. Projects related only to telematics or other new technologies will be excluded from the scope. Member States will designate an authority to act as the main point of contact for the project promoter. For the entire permit-granting process, a maximum time limit of four years will apply, extensions will be possible in duly justified cases. Member States will have two years to comply. This approach is very much in line with the CoR position that had called on the EU to concentrate on cross-border sections, give flexibility to Member States with decentralised administrative structures and respect subsidiarity.
On 13 February 2019, the EP adopted its position. The most important similarity with the CoR opinion is that it introduces the possibility for a Member State to delegate the competence (of a single competent authority) to a more appropriate level, as long as the principle of 'single point of contact' is observed.
On 4 March 2019, the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) published a study on the subject, highlighting the CoR opinion's position that "a tailor-made approach should be possible where Member States already have streamlined procedures in place". This is in line with the above position expressed by the European Parliament.
On 2 December 2019, the Council adopted a general approach, changing the legal nature of the proposal from a regulation to a directive, to give Member States more flexibility. The draft directive would cover projects that are part of pre-identified cross-border links and missing links of the TEN-T core network. Projects related only to telematics or other new technologies will be excluded from the scope. Member States will designate an authority to act as the main point of contact for the project promoter. For the entire permit-granting process, a maximum time limit of four years will apply, extensions will be possible in duly justified cases. Member States will have two years to comply. This approach is very much in line with the CoR position that had called on the EU to concentrate on cross-border sections, give flexibility to Member States with decentralised administrative structures and respect subsidiarity.
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- underlines that the completion of the TEN-T core and comprehensive network is the key to ensuring territorial cohesion, making all regions more accessible and boosting the economic development of peripheral and cross-border regions;
- welcomes the proposal of the Commission, in the context of speeding up the implementation of the TEN-T network and achieving the Paris agreement objectives. It is also very important for harmonising procedure and technical standards and increasing interoperability;
- would like to stress the importance of streamlining procedures inter alia in border regions;
- suggests that instead of applying the proposed procedure to all TEN-T projects, the regulation should specify which projects fall under its application. Member States should, for example, be allowed to decide what projects fall under the regulation;
- recalls that administrative burden must not be simplified and reduced at the expense of subsidiarity and proportionality. Tailor-made approaches should be possible if a Member State already has streamlined procedures in place;
- welcomes the intention of the proposal to facilitate cross-border cooperation for the development of transport links, to remove missing links.