Big money for large ports. What is for smaller ports?

European Commission is preparing for spending 26 Billion of Euro for transport infrastructure projects. At the 'BPO Workshop on new framework for EU transport infrastructure funding' EC discussed a new approach towards financing the roads, rail and ports projects in EU. Paweł Stelmaszczyk, Special Envoy for European Mobility Network, presented the whole concept of TENT-T Policy as well as a new EU finance tool called Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Within CEF, Commission has allocated over 26 billion Euro for transport infrastructure within the years 2014-2020 (comparing with 8 billion Euro within passed period 2007-2013).

Mr. Paweł Stelmaszczyk said “One of the main difference with previous period is that now so called cohesion countries (like Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) will be able to finance the transport infrastructure projects directly from CEF Fund from Brussels. For other countries the rules will rather stay the same”. Within CEF, over 11 billion Euro is to be transferred from Cohesion Fund for transport project, and will be available for Cohesion countries. Remaining 16 billion Euro is available for all 28 members of EU. Priority will be given to projects from core network - 9 corridors established by new TEN-T Policy.

Mr. Jarosław Kotowski, Project Manager from Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (a successor of previous TEN-T Executive Agency) presented whole granting process including call for proposals, project evaluation and project selection criteria. He also informed that the first call for application within new budget period 2014-2020 is expected in September/October this year.

Bogdan Ołdakowski, BPO Secretary General said: “It is always good to learned the details on how Commission is planning to grant money for transport projects. However, we should remember that big money is rather available for core ports and one should not forget about smaller ports - those having comprehensive status and there are quite many of them in the Baltic. One of the question we keep asking is if there will be any EU assistance for those ports as well. The answer is not clear at the moment”.

According to BPO new strategy, the organization apart from dealing with main “drivers” for ports sector, focuses on policy and market factors having the impact on semi sized and smaller port. The financing of port infrastructure (including EU funds) in these port stays one of the main challenge for their performance.  

The Workshop was organized during Transport Week 2014 in Gdańsk on 6th of March 2014.

If you interested in receiving the PP presentation, please contact: bpo.office@actiaforum.pl