Malta is very satisfied with the planning approach being taken to support the implementation of the TEN-T Core Network by Member States through the establishment of core network corridors and the appointment of European Coordinators to facilitate the coordinated implementation of each Corridor.

This was declared by Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Joe Mizzi during the Informal Transport Council, which is being held in Milan, Italy. As a Member State on the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor, Malta has been an active member on this Corridor’s Forum since April.

During his speech, Minister Mizzi said that the Maltese Government believes that this Forum has served to establish good lines of communication between the European Coordinators, Member States and the various stakeholders that are involved in the planning and management of key transport infrastructures on the TEN-T Core Network.

“Malta is well aware of the challenges being faced by the European Coordinators to finalise realistic and achievable corridor work plans by the end of 2014 and, to this end, will continue to provide all necessary support in order to finalise the work plan for this corridor in the most efficient and comprehensive manner,” Minister Mizzi said. 

When asked by the Italian Presidency whether additional structures were required to facilitate the preparation and implementation of particularly challenging sections of the TEN-T, Minister Mizzi stated that the creation of single structures to carry out complex project developments are unproductive and would not necessarily support the work being carried out by the European Coordinators as well as at a national level.  At this stage, the headline targets of completion of the core network, as currently provided in EU legislation, should be sufficient to drive the TEN-T projects forward as supported by the Corridor Coordinators.”

Regarding a Ministerial discussion point raised by the Presidency on the reinforcement of the European Structural Funds Implementation rules to ensure TEN-T projects are delivered on time, Minister Mizzi said that Malta believes that the current rules and regulations are already fairly stringent and can severely impact on the restricted resources available to the Member States, like Malta. Therefore, further restrictions and tightening of the ESIF rules are not considered to be conducive to the aims of the TEN-T, but conversely are more likely to exert the need for further resources.

With regard to the Presidency request for ideas for the speeding up the TEN-T project preparation, selection and implementation process, Malta had recommended the necessary urgent action by European Commission to make the CEF model application forms and relevant guidance notes available to Member States as soon as possible, preferably before the call comes out.

“The establishment of technical assistance for the development and implementation of TEN-T core network projects is most welcome,” Mizzi said, but expressed his concern whether the grant agreement for Jaspers assistance between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) has actually been signed and urged the EC to ensure that such technical assistance facility is in place and made available as early as possible.

He added that at a national level, although recent developments in streamlining processes of planning and permitting have effectively reduced the complexity and timelines for obtaining project preparation, further work to streamline and reduce the bureaucracy relating to EU funding management and approval is clearly required.

During another intervention earlier today, Minister Mizzi welcomed the introduction of the Connecting Europe Facility as a new financing instrument and the setting aside of 26 Billion Euro between now and 2020 to facilitate the completion of the critical parts of the TENT  network.

“Since there is a shortfall in the funds required, it is essential to consider the blending of CEF funding with other established financial instruments,” Minister Mizzi said. “In this respect co-financing together with EU Structural Funds shall be essential and we feel that a simplification of the rules relating to such funding will serve to ensure the effective absorption of CEF funding.”

On the subject of state aid, Minister Mizzi said that the Maltese Government feels that retrospective state aid analysis of projects has always been one of the major risks to investors seeking to participate in the implementation of transport infrastructures, since the balance of risk and reward is significantly influenced by the financing of the project. Efforts to ensure that pre-assessed state aid implications are locked down at an early stage of project development are crucial.

“In this respect, Malta would support a proposal to request the Commission to explore equitable inclusion of transport TEN-T core network infrastructure into the State Aid Block Exemption Regulation, Minister Mizzi concluded.