Christophersen Group on status of transport projects, April 1994 In December 1993, the European Council established a Group of personal representatives of Heads of State and Government chaired by Commission Vice-President Christophersen to speed the completion of trans-European networks. The Group's objective is to identify projects of maj... In December 1993, the European Council established a Group of personal representatives of Heads of State and Government chaired by Commission Vice-President Christophersen to speed the completion of trans-European networks. The Group's objective is to identify projects of major European importance and facilitate their quick realization. This requires studies of the specific and general obstacles to project implementation and the possible means of overcoming them. In the area of transport, the group assists the Commission in identifying which trans-European network projects should be given priority. The White Paper on Trans-European Networks listed 26 transport projects of major European importance. Following the initial meetings of the Group, the list has been adjusted in the light of Member States' comments. Criteria have also been established for the selection of projects for further examination, and on this basis a list has been drawn up distinguishing between those projects to be implemented immediately and those which can be considered at subsequent stages. With regard to the projects which deal with the implementation of new technologies on a Europe-wide basis (those which relate to traffic management and which will improve the use of infrastructure for all modes of transport), the Commission is to submit proposals on how to proceed as soon as possible concerning the following projects: - A road traffic management system; - An air traffic management system; - A vessel traffic management system; - A satellite-based multimodal positioning system; - Pilot projects for a railway management system. Vice-President Christophersen notes that the progress made by the Group to date is beyond expectations in identifying concrete projects in transport and also in energy. He adds, however, that difficult questions such as financing are still not resolved. A number of projects can only be realized by mobilizing optimal private and public capital combinations and by developing new financing instruments. In this regard, the options are still open. The question will be further discussed by the Group and by the Council in May and June of this year. Mr. Christophersen will present an interim report to the Council in June, and a final report is expected to be presented in December.
