Development of Transport Networks New Initiatives Multimodal Transport & Trade Facilitation Southeast European Forum 2004 Development of Transport Networks New Initiatives Dr. Dimitrios Tsamboulas Associate Professor, National Technical University of Athens December, 5-7 2004

Presentation Outline Overview of current Transport Initiatives The Strategic Role of SEE in Transport Networks New Initiatives

Current Transport Initiatives European Commission initiated High Level Group for the extension of the major Trans-European axes to the neighbouring countries and regions TEM / TER Master Plan OSE Study for the Development of an intermodal Transport Corridor (Russia-Bulgaria-Greece) MEDA TEN T Corridors Euro-Asian Transport Corridors

High Level Group – 1 HLG is composed of representatives from the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Palestinian Authority, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya (as observer), Morocco, Moldova, Norway, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo (under UNMIK administration), Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. The Member States of the EU will also be represented in the Group

High Level Group – 2 The HLG is divided into 4 regional groups: Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, South East Europe, East Mediterranean and West Mediterranean. Therefore, there is a regional group dedicated to the SEE region, while two others (the first and third) are relevant since they are dedicated to neighboring regions.

High Level Group – 3 Objectives and role of the High Level Group Make proposals on how to better connect the European Union with its neighbours through a well functioning transport system in the time horizon of 2020 The Group’s role is advisory and it will present its final recommendations to the Commission in the second half of 2005

High Level Group – 4 The mandate of HLG is to: Assess the existing agreements and exercises determining transport axes and priority investments in view of their importance for transport connections between the EU and the neighbouring countries Synthesise information on traffic flows, both current and for 2020, for passenger and freight transport between the EU and neighbouring countries in view of identifying priority transport axes which are more relevant for international and long distance traffic (cont.)

High Level Group – 5 Examine the proposals for priority projects submitted by the members of HLG. These projects should be located on axes identified under items mentioned before. Draw up a restricted list of projects covering all of the EU’s neighbouring regions Analyse relevant horizontal issues and examine the means to facilitate and, where appropriate, to speed up the implementation of projects, including innovative forms of financing

Trans-European Railway Network (TER) - 1 UNECE TER Project is a sub-regional co-operation established in 1990 by the Governments of the Central , Eastern and South Eastern European Countries 16 countries from CE& SE Europe are full members and 5 observer countries participate

Trans-European Railway Network (TER) - 2 Main objectives Improvement of the quality and efficiency of transport operations Assistance of the integration process of European Transport Infrastructure systems Development of coherent and efficient international railway and combined transport system in the region in accordance with UNECE Pan –European infrastructure agreements

TER Network

Trans-European Motorway Network (TEM) - 1 UN/CE TEM Project is a sub-regional co-operation established in 1977 by the Governments of the Central , Eastern and South Eastern European Countries 13 countries from CE& SE Europe are full members and 8 observer countries participate

Trans-European Motorway Network (TEM) - 2 Main objectives The facilitation of road traffic in Europe among and through the countries participating in the project Improvement of the quality and efficiency of transport operations The balance of gaps and imbalances existing in the motorway network between Western, Central , Eastern and South Eastern Europe The assistance of the integration process of European Transport Infrastructure systems

TEM Network

TEM and TER Master Plans Aims at elaboration of strategic plan of action for implementation of TEM and TER Project objectives in terms of updated and prioritised road, rail and combined transport infrastructure needs of TEM-TER member countries identification of investment priorities, establishment of a timetable for their realization, assessment of cost involved and appropriate financing arrangements.

MEDA TEN-T (1) MEDA TEN-T is a thematic network aiming to establish a strategic overview of transport in the Mediterranean area and operate a network of Transport Experts on a long-term basis. The MEDA TEN-T countries are: France, Greece, Austria, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Malta, Jordan

MEDA TEN-T (2) MEDA TEN-T is expected to enhance the common understanding of transport issues and promote safety, efficiency, interoperability and interconnectivity of transport networks in the Mediterranean area and between the Mediterranean Main objectives Identification and record of transport networks and connections between and within Mediterranean countries Contribution to the development of a Euro-Mediterranean transport network Overview of existing infrastructure and service conditions of Euro-Mediterranean transport, as well as future plans

MEDA TEN-T Corridors

TEN-T and MEDA TEN-T Corridors

Euro-Mediterranean Corridors PAN EUROPEAN CORRIDORS TEN MEDA TEN-T CORRIDORS MEDA TEN-T CORRIDORS MEDA TEN-T CORRIDORS MEDA TEN-T CORRIDORS MEDA TEN-T CORRIDORS SOUTH MEDA TEN CORRIDOR

Euro-Asian Transport Corridors - Countries The countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Georgia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan .

Euro-Asian Transport Corridors - Routes The selected main Euro-Asian land transport routes include Northern East-West routes linking the western borders of Belarus and Ukraine, through the Russian Federation, with the port of Vladivostock in the Pacific Ocean, with branches through Kazakhstan and China up to the Shanghai port. They also included the TRACECA routes, linking Romania and Bulgaria, through the Black Sea, Turkey, the Caucasus countries and the Caspian Sea, with Central Asian countries, and extended to China. Other main routes were North-South routes linking the Barents and Baltic Sea regions, through the territory of the Russian Federation, with the Caucasus countries and Iran. Finally, other selected main routes are Southern East-West routes linking Bulgaria, through Turkey and Iran, with Afghanistan and China, with branches to Southern Iran and India

Euro-Asian Corridors

Intermodal Transport Corridor Russia-Bulgaria-Greece (1) Evaluate the possibility of creating an intermodal transport corridor connecting Russian Federation with northern Greek ports, via Bulgaria -and any other interested countries- in accordance with EU initiatives, following existing trends in freight and rail transport developments and keeping in mind the problems and the unique characteristics of South-East Europe

Intermodal Transport Corridor Russia-Bulgaria-Greece (2) The network will consist of road, rail, sea connections -through Black Sea and Vosporus- and the intermodal corridor under consideration. Countries “involved” in the corridor development are: mainly Russia , Bulgaria, Greece and secondarily Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Georgia and possibly Turkey The countries that will be included in the transport model application will be all the above as well as some of their bordering/ neighboring countries and areas, such as: Hungary, Slovakia, Fed. Rep. Of Yugoslavia, FYROM, Central Europe etc.

Corridor in red Today’s -nearly congested- routes in blue Yellow (below Black Sea & Vosporus) and green (above Black Sea & Vosporus) indicative alternative routes of rail transport

PAN EUROPEAN CORRIDORS SEE Region and Current Transport Initiatives PAN EUROPEAN CORRIDORS TER/ TEM Euro Asian Corridors TEN TER/ TEM MEDA TEN-T CORRIDORS

Balkans and Current Transport Initiatives the beginning.. the end … the cross-road…

The Strategic role of SEE Region SEE Region holds a strategic role as it acts as a the end or the beginning but mostly as the link-node for all current transport initiatives and networks (MEDA, Euro-Asian, TEN, TEM & TER) Therefore can provide a common ground for development of a multimodal transport infrastructure network adjusted to the expected requirements of passenger and goods

New Initiatives – On policy level linking the respective capabilities of transport projects which are of mutual interest for all networks, harmonizing transportation policies whilst at the same time maintain cultural specificities and stimulate countries and modes competition; stimulating cooperation in European networks to solve urgent problems of bilateral or European significance, such as the creation of bases for growth and employment; intensifying the development and expansion of the European Area as a whole towards all directions.

New Initiatives – On network level Development of thematic networks to establish a strategic overview of transport in SEE and operate a network of Transport Experts on a long-term basis Identify and examine common (for all networks) transport projects and initiatives and assist the prioritization of these projects at a strategic level i.e. Evaluation method of TEM&TER Master Plan, in three levels (identification, assessment and prioritization), employed: criteria reflecting societal values, priorities and available resources (mainly financial) of countries concerned, viability of projects to secure loans and possible private funds.

New Initiatives – On links/nodes level Exploitation of the participation of SEE intermodal transport nodes (ports, rail stations, freight villages, terminals etc.) in the development of corridors which link SEE with world-wide corridors (Asian corridors, MEDA corridors etc.) the case of the study for the intermodal corridor Russia-Bulgaria-Greece, linking Asia with West Europe and Mediterranean area via Greece SSS (Short Sea Shipping) services between Greece - Cyprus & ports of the Euro-Asian Corridors