27 Amendments of Henna VIRKKUNEN related to 2021/0420(COD)
Amendment 297 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Exemptions from the infrastructure requirements applicable to the core, extended core and comprehensive network should be possible only in duly justified cases and subject to certain conditions. This should include cases where investment cannot be justified, or where there are specific geographic or significant physical constraints, for example in outermost regions and other remote, insular, peripheral and mountainous regions or in sparsely populated areas, or for isolated or partially isolated networks.
Amendment 339 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) To achieve transformation of the transport sector into a truly multimodal system of sustainable and smart mobility services, the Union should build a high quality transport network with, free of bottlenecks, with double-track railway along the core network enabling rail services to meeting minimum line speeds. Competitive passenger rail has a high potential for the decarbonisation of transport. There is the need to develop a coherent and interoperable European high speed rail network linking its capitals and major cities. Complementing existing high speed lines with passenger lines at a minimum line speed of 160 km/h should in return lead to network effects, a more coherent network and an increased number of passengers travelling by rail. The completion of a high-performance network will also facilitate the development and introduction of new or different models of capacity allocation, for example interval- service timetables enabled by the Timetable Redesign (TTR) initiative.
Amendment 358 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41 a (new)
Recital 41 a (new)
(41a) Because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the position adopted by Belarus in that conflict, cooperation between the Union and Russia and Belarus in the field of the TEN-T policy is neither appropriate nor in the interest of the Union. Hence the TEN-T network in those two third countries should be discontinued. As a consequence, improved cross-border connections to Russia and Belarus are no longer of high priority on the territory of the Member States. Connections currently exist between Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland with those two third countries. To reflect the lesser priority in building and upgrading those connections, the last-miles of all cross- border connections with Russia and Belarus currently included in the core network should be downgraded from the core to the comprehensive network for which only a later deadline of implementation of 2050 is provided for. However, in case of a democratic transition in Belarus building and upgrading the country’s cross border connections with the EU in line with the comprehensive economic plan for a democratic Belarus would be a high priority, including through re-inclusion of the country back in the Regulation.’ The transfer of the last sections leading to the borders of Russia and Belarus from the core network to the comprehensive network must not, however, endanger the eligibility of the road and rail connections in question from the CEF instrument. The accessibility of the various regions of the member states, such as Eastern Finland, must not be unnecessarily weakened in the changed geopolitical situation.
Amendment 398 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 46
Recital 46
(46) Being the entry and exit points for the land infrastructure of the trans- European transport network, maritime ports play an important role as cross-border multimodal nodes which serve not only as transport hubs, but also as gateways for trade, industrial clusters and energy hubs, for example with regard to the deployment of off-shore wind installations. , including the necessary landing and service infrastructure and grid connectivity, or pipeline infrastructure for the transport of energy sources and other liquid of gaseous products. In their function as hubs of energy, industry and blue economy, ports can substantially contribute to a sustainable, digital and resilient European economy. Given the strategic role of ports for resilient supply chains, for the diversification of energy supply and for energy security, its importance for the respective Member State, in terms of cohesion, geopolitical position, energy transition and added- value to the region, should be considered in addition to traffic volumes for the inclusion in the TEN-T network;
Amendment 471 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62
Recital 62
(62) Taking stock of the experience with regard to the crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic25 and in order to avoid traffic disruptions and contingencies in future, Member States should take into account the security and resilience of the transport infrastructure to climate change, natural hazards, human-made disasters and other disruptions affecting the functioning of the Union transport system, when planning infrastructure. To that aim, other criteria beyond traffic volumes should be considered and the European Transport Corridors should also include important diversionary lines which can be used in case of congestion or other problems on the principal routes. In addition, due to their multimodal nature, one mode can substitute the other in case of emergencies. __________________ 25 Communication on the implementation of the Green Lanes under the Guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services; C(2020)1897 final (OJ C 96 I, 24.3.2020, p. 1) and Communication of 28 October 2020 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on “upgrading the transport Green Lanes to keep the economy going during the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence”; COM(2020)685 final.
Amendment 473 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62
Recital 62
(62) Taking stock of the experience with regard to the crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic25 and in order to avoid traffic disruptions and contingencies in future, Member States should take into account the security and resilience of the transport infrastructure to climate change, natural hazards, human-made disasters and other disruptions affecting the functioning of the Union transport system, when planning infrastructure. To that aim, existing bottlenecks should be removed and the European Transport Corridors should also include important diversionary lines which can be used in case of congestion or other problems on the principal routes. In addition, due to their multimodal nature, one mode can substitute the other in case of emergencies. __________________ 25 Communication on the implementation of the Green Lanes under the Guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services; C(2020)1897 final (OJ C 96 I, 24.3.2020, p. 1) and Communication of 28 October 2020 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on “upgrading the transport Green Lanes to keep the economy going during the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence”; COM(2020)685 final.
Amendment 513 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 74 a (new)
Recital 74 a (new)
(74a) The inclusion of transport nodes, such as maritime ports, in the TEN-T network determines in many cases the scope and application of other European legislation. In order to provide legal certainty and to enable long-term strategic planning, it is essential to keep the network as stable as possible. In cases where quantitative thresholds are no longer met, the node’s development plan or prognosis should be considered prior to removal from the network, as well as its geopolitical importance or role in the supply of energy.
Amendment 705 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the adequate consideration of the resilience of the transport network and its strategic infrastructure with regard to a changing climate as well as natural hazards and human-made disasters, as well as intentional disruptions with a view to addressing those challenges; Particular consideration should be given to critical infrastructure, in order to ensure supply in times of disruptions;
Amendment 727 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) be economically viable on the basis of a socio-economic cost-benefit analysis, as well as different geographical conditions need to be fully recognised;
Amendment 763 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The core network should be expanded to sufficiently cover strategically important maritime ports within the European Union, particularly taking into account the recent geopolitical events. The scope of the expansion of the core network should be determined taking into account the role of maritime ports in the security of supply, and the building and maintenance of renewable energy facilities.
Amendment 926 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 a (new)
Article 16 a (new)
Article 16a Member States may identify in the migration plan the railway lines which will not migrate to the European standard nominal track gauge of 1 435 mm. The migration plan shall include a socio- economic cost-benefit analysis justifying the decision not to migrate the railway lines to the European standard nominal track gauge of 1 435 mm and an assessment of the impact on interoperability. When setting the track width requirements and evaluating the effects, the geographic location of the member country and its effect on the interoperability of the member country's rail network with the European standard gauge should be taken into account.
Amendment 927 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 b (new)
Article 16 b (new)
Article 16b If a Member State with a different railway gauge compared to the European one, intends to build new railways or prepare existing ones which are in the TEN-T core network, the European Commission shall prepare a plan together with that Member State and allocate financial assistance for those Member States from the Connecting Europe Facility.
Amendment 1132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 4 – point d a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 4 – point d a (new)
(da) it is a critical node for the supply and transport of energy into and in the EU and is instrumental to reach the ambitions of REPowerEU; it is facilitating the connectivity, operations and maintenance of installations generating more than 1000MW renewable energy or enabling a substantial share (at least 10%) of the national renewable energy production, as well as providing the necessary transport infrastructure within the port;
Amendment 1139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 4 – point d b (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 4 – point d b (new)
(db) it is of geopolitical strategic importance and part of national strategic plans in terms of emergency supply chains, military mobility or energy security.
Amendment 1218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 2
Article 30 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that the road infrastructure of the core network and extended core network meets the requirements set out in Article 29(2), points (a), (b), (c) and (d), by 31 December 2040.
Amendment 1221 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Article 30 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that the road infrastructure of the core network and extended core network meets the requirements set out in Article 29(2), point (b),s (a), (b), (c) and (d) by 31 December 2030.
Amendment 1251 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the airports of the core network with a total annual passenger traffic volume of more than four million passengers are connected with the long- distance rail network, including the high- speed rail network, and road transport infrastructure of the trans-European transport network by 31 December 2030, except where specific geographic or significant physical constraints prevent such connections;
Amendment 1265 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) air transport infrastructure provides for pre-conditioned air supply to stationary aircraftwith a total annual passenger traffic volume of more than four million passengers provides for pre-conditioned air supply to stationary aircraft contact stands used for commercial transport operations by 31 December 2035 for airports of the core network and 31 December 2040 for airports of the comprehensive network.
Amendment 1315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 5
Article 37 – paragraph 5
5. At the request of a Member State, in duly justified cases, exemptions from the obligations under paragraphs 1 to 4 may be granted by the Commission by means of implementing acts where investment in infrastructure cannot be justified in socio- economic cost-benefit terms, in particular when the terminal is located in a spatially restricted area, among other relevant factors.
Amendment 1354 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 40 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 40 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) by 31 December 2040: the development, where economically viable, of at least one multimodal freight terminal allowing for sufficient transhipment capacity within or in the vicinity of the urban node, subject to the derogation referred to in Article 37(5).
Amendment 1584 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 56 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 56 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) exclude maritime ports and airports from the comprehensive network, if it is demonstrated that the average of their traffic volume over the last six years is below 85% of the relevant threshold; In order to guarantee a high degree of network stability, the port’s or airport’s development plan, traffic prognosis or geopolitical importance or role for the energy supply should be considered prior to the exclusion from the network, in addition to current traffic volumes;
Amendment 1592 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 56 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 56 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) include urban nodes in the trans- European transport network, if it is demonstrated that the number of inhabitants exceeds 100,000, or if the urban node is identified as a cluster for raw material extraction or industrial production being of great strategic importance for the Union;
Amendment 1636 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part 4/23
Annex 1 – part 4/23
Add the following to the core network: - Kouvola-Imatra rail freight line
Amendment 1773 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 2 - table - section FI (new)
Annex 2 - table - section FI (new)
Node name: Kaskinen Maritime port: Comprehensive
Amendment 1774 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 2 - table - section FI
Annex 2 - table - section FI
Node name: Kokkola Maritime port: Comprehensivre
Amendment 1775 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 2 - table - section FI
Annex 2 - table - section FI
Node name: Oulu / Uleåborg Maritime port: Comprehensivre (Oulu)
Amendment 1776 #
Node name: Pietarsaari Maritime port: Comprehensive