PURPOSE: to recast the Decision on the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 661/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network.

CONTENT: following a first-reading agreement with the European Parliament under the ordinary legislative procedure, the Council adopted a recast of a decision on guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, originally adopted in 1996. The recast includes the various amendments made to the decision over time and incorporates new amendments necessary to take account of the enlargement of the EU to 27 Member States.

The necessary amendments consist of adding the maps relating to the 10 Member States listed in the 2003 Act of Accession in Annex I to the Decision to the existing maps relating to the 15 countries that were Members of the European Union before the enlargement of 1 May 2004. This amendment was provided for in Article 1(15) of Decision No 884/2004/EC and it must be made. In accordance with Decision No 884/2004/EC, the target date for the trans-European network outline plan for the 10 Member States in the 2003 Act of Accession is 2020 rather than 2010. In the interests of clarity, it is proposed to replace Annex I to the codified text with a new Annex I which would include the maps concerning the 27 Member States of the European Union .

The objective is to establish such a network gradually by 2020 , by integrating land, sea and air transport infrastructure networks throughout the Union.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25/08/2010.

The European Parliament adopted by 617 votes to 8, with 11 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (recast).

It adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure), taking into account the recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. The amendments adopted in plenary are a result of a compromise reached between the European Parliament and the Council.

The necessary amendments consist of adding the maps relating to the 10 Member States listed in the 2003 Act of Accession in Annex I of Decision 1692/96/EC to the existing maps relating to the 15 countries that were Members of the European Union before the enlargement of 1 May 2004.

In the interests of clarity, Annex I of Decision No 1692/96/EC should be replaced with a new Annex containing the maps concerning all of the Member States. This would ensure that the maps already contained in that Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 are supplemented by those contained in the 2003 Act of Accession. Moreover the target date for the plan is 2020 for all of the Member States.

It should also be added that a Committee should be empowered, in particular, to assist the Commission when it examines the implementation and development of the guidelines laid down by this Decision.

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Brian Simpson (S&D, UK) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (recast).

It recommended that the European Parliament’s position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure) should be to adopt the report, take taking into account the recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.

To recall, this proposal is technically speaking a proposal for codification of the legislative text. Nevertheless the Commission was forced to do it via recast procedure as the text contains minor modifications in the Annex.

The necessary amendments consist of adding the maps relating to the 10 Member States listed in the 2003 Act of Accession in Annex I to the Decision to the existing maps relating to the 15 countries that were Members of the European Union before the enlargement of 1 May 2004. In the interests of clarity, it is proposed to replace Annex I to the codified text with a new Annex I which would include the maps concerning the 27 Member States of the European Union. At the same time, in line with Art 1(1) of Decision No. 884/2004/EC, the date is changed to 2020 for all Member States.

Considering the technical nature of this proposal, coordinators decided to give the report to the chair as the real revision of the guidelines is in preparation and will be ready only towards the end of next year.

The Council has agreed on a text and a general approach was taken at the Council meeting on 18 December. Council followed the Commission and has not introduced any substantial modification to the text, just some minor modifications in the recitals and some technical corrections on the maps.

Following these legal and political reassurances, the rapporteur suggests to agree on the text, including the minor modifications and corrections proposed by the Council and to conclude the file with a 1st reading agreement.

The Council adopted a general approach, pending the European Parliament's opinion, regarding a recast of a decision on guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, originally adopted in 1996. The recast includes the various amendments made to the decision over time and incorporates new amendments necessary to take account of the enlargement of the EU to 27 Member States.

The guidelines constitute a general reference framework for projects of common interest which contribute to the development of the trans-European transport network. The objective is to establish the network gradually by 2020, by integrating land, sea and air transport infrastructure networks throughout the Union.

PURPOSE: to present a recast version of the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: the codification of Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network has been undertaken by the Commission and a relevant proposal has been submitted to the legislative authority . The new Decision was to supersede the various acts incorporated in it.

Meanwhile, it was necessary to amend Annex I to Decision No 1692/96/EC of to take account of the enlargement of the European Community to 27 Member States.

It is therefore appropriate to transform the codification of Decision No 1692/96/EC into a recast in order to incorporate the amendments necessary for the adjustment to the enlargement.

The necessary amendments consist of adding the maps relating to the 10 Member States listed in the 2003 Act of Accession in Annex I to the Decision to the existing maps relating to the 15 countries that were Members of the European Union before the enlargement of 1 May 2004. This amendment was provided for in Article 1(15) of Decision No 884/2004/EC and it must be made. In accordance with Decision No 884/2004/EC, the target date for the trans-European network outline plan for the 10 Member States in the 2003 Act of Accession is 2020 rather than 2010. In the interests of clarity, it is proposed to replace Annex I to the codified text with a new Annex I which would include the maps concerning the 27 Member States of the European Union.

PURPOSE: to present a recast version of the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: the codification of Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network has been undertaken by the Commission and a relevant proposal has been submitted to the legislative authority . The new Decision was to supersede the various acts incorporated in it.

Meanwhile, it was necessary to amend Annex I to Decision No 1692/96/EC of to take account of the enlargement of the European Community to 27 Member States.

It is therefore appropriate to transform the codification of Decision No 1692/96/EC into a recast in order to incorporate the amendments necessary for the adjustment to the enlargement.

The necessary amendments consist of adding the maps relating to the 10 Member States listed in the 2003 Act of Accession in Annex I to the Decision to the existing maps relating to the 15 countries that were Members of the European Union before the enlargement of 1 May 2004. This amendment was provided for in Article 1(15) of Decision No 884/2004/EC and it must be made. In accordance with Decision No 884/2004/EC, the target date for the trans-European network outline plan for the 10 Member States in the 2003 Act of Accession is 2020 rather than 2010. In the interests of clarity, it is proposed to replace Annex I to the codified text with a new Annex I which would include the maps concerning the 27 Member States of the European Union.