The influence of the Trans-European Transport Networks and European Territorial Cooperation on cross-border transport

Abstract

In order to facilitate European territorial cohesion, the linkage of member states by means of efficient cross-border transport infrastructures and services is an important factor. Many cross-border transport challenges have existed in everyday life. They have hampered smooth passenger and freight flows within the EU. Two EU policies, namely European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) and the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T), promote enhancing cross-border transport through cooperation in soft spaces. This dissertation explores the influence of these two EU policies on cross-border transport and further European integration.

Questions and topics

This dissertation explores the influence of these the two EU policies European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) and the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) on cross-border transport and further European integration.

Main Results

  • The two EU policies support cross-border transport on different levels. They need to be better intertwined in order to make effective use of their complementarities.
  • The EU policies have a distinct influence on domestic policy and planning documents of different administrative levels and countries as well as on the practical implementation.
  • The final implementation of the EU objectives and the cross- border transport initiatives is strongly influenced by the member states’ initial situations – particularly, the regional and local transport needs.
  • The two EU policies cannot remove the entirety of the cross- border transport-related challenges. However, in addition to their financial investments in concrete projects, they promote the importance of cross-border transport and facilitate cooperation, learning and exchange processes. These are all of
  • high relevance to cross-border transport development, driven by member states, as well as to further European integration

Recommendations

  • Do not enlarge the transport planning competences of the EU in addition to the TEN-T network
  • Decentralize further transnational transport development tasks to transnational transport planning committees that are aware of regional needs and can coordinate a joint transport development strategy
  • Offer additional EU funds for the implementation of joint transport development strategies (secondary and tertiary connections)
  • Improve coordination + cooperation between transnational regions, transport corridors, the two EU policy fields and domestic ministries
  • Focus future ETC projects on topics that are of added value for the whole cross-border region or else that can be applied in different territorial contexts
  • Enhance the dissemination of project results so that the developed tools can be accessed by potential users and benefits become more visible to a wider society
  • Frequently involve transport and spatial planners in transnational projects to increase the relation to planning practice and generate more concrete outputs
  • Increase the offer of advanced training regarding planning cultures

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Contact

Beate Caesar
Beate CAESAR

Fachbereich Raum- und Umweltplanung
Fachgebiet Internationale Planungssysteme

Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau