In the EU’s strategy, railway transport plays an important role both by reducing the dependency on fuel consumption reducing the impact on the environment and contributing to each state’s economic growth. Thus, the development of a competitive transport system, full of resources, which has to reach a balance between rail networks and the development of an efficient infrastructure are decisive criteria which need investments.
At global level, the latest update of annual transport infrastructure investments (published by the International Transport Forum) shows that GDP share of infrastructure investment has remained almost constant in Western European countries (0.8%) and North America (0.6%) over the past decade. Record investment levels were reached in Eastern European countries, with 7.6% growth (2008/2009), amounting to 2% of GDP.
Trends for Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) differ, the share of investment in transport infrastructure, which until 2002 has been at around 1.0% of GDP, has reached 2.0% in 2009 – the highest figure ever reported by these countries. In Russia, investments accounted for 1.9% of GDP in 2000 but declined to 1.2% in 2006. Latest data show renewed growth, varying from 1.5 and 1.7%.
Nevertheless, at European level, rail infrastructure investments are still facing major discrepancies. “Central and Eastern European governments face a number of problems in the attempt to modernise their national railway systems and the challenge is enormous. These reach from the need to reform the railway sector to project planning, managing and implementing skills”, declared Michael Clausecker, UNIFE Director-General, in a conference which took place in July 2011.
„Although official declarations emphasize 50%-50% investments, reality proves that in new Member States, almost 80% of the EU funds for transport are invested in roads, 18% in railways and 2% in naval. The EU budget for 2007-2014 is also an example of a major discrepancy which doesn’t favour railways, as European budget investments in railways total EUR 28.7 Billion, while road investments hit EUR 40.3 Billion. Under the circumstance, a natural question that comes to mind is whether the efficiency of railway transport and a balance between transport modes are really desirable”, said Johannes Ludewig, the Executive Director of CER.
In order to solve part of the financing and project establishing problems, EC and JASPERS provide free assistance. The problem of developing projects is very important although the EU has an ambitious plan in drafting the budget: 50% of the budget for transport will go to railways and 50% to the other means of transport.
„The the issue of EU funds absorption is absolutely central: technical assistance programmes such as JASPERS should be coupled with adequate financing from the EU budget. But let’s not forget that because of the well-known principle of additionality, EU funds can be spent only if supported by a greater commitment coming from national budgets. It is at national level that rail shall become a priority, if we want to achieve together a decarbonised European transport system” mentioned CER representative.
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