The geography of the Baltic Sea Region, the very long distances by European standards (especially to the northern parts which are very remote), the extent of the sea that links but also divides the regions, the extensive external borders: all these pose special challenges to communication and physical accessibility in the region. In particular, the historical and geographical position of the Eastern Baltic Member States, with their internal networks largely oriented East-West, makes substantial investment in communication, transport and energy infrastructures particularly important.
In addition the very extent and variety of the region creates particular attractions for visitors and residents. The multiplicity of languages and cultures that have survived through centuries of interaction of various types, the range of urban heritage, landscapes, seascapes and cultural landmarks available, provide great potential to create a region that will be a magnet to visitors. The priority actions in this section therefore seek to address the risks and challenges, while also exploiting and enhancing the opportunities within the region.
Examples of financing
Programmed expenditures for the 2007-2013 period under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund for the Convergence and Competitiveness and employment programmes in the Baltic Sea Region in fields linked to accessibility and attractiveness:
Information Society: € 1.4 billion
Transport: € 23.1 billion
Motorways (TEN-T) € 8.4 billion
Railways (TEN-T) € 4.7 billion
National roads € 2.8 billion
Motorways (non TEN-T) € 2.1 billion
Other42 € 5.1 billion
Energy: € 2.6 billion
Total: € 27.1 billion
In addition, the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Programme and other Community programmes (in particular the 7th Research Framework Programme, the LIFE programme, the European Territorial Cooperation programmes (under the European Regional Development Fund), the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument Cross-border Cooperation programmes (ENPI CBC), the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Fisheries Fund (EFF; Programmed Community expenditures 2007-2013 under the EFF contributing to the sustainable development of fisheries areas € 316 million) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme as well as national, regional and local policies are financing important projects. In addition, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is already providing its lending / co-financing to a large number of projects and could further extend its activities to a large number of flagship projects.
Examples of projects (ongoing and planned ones, total cost)43:
Ongoing projects: The track renewal on the East-West Railway Corridor (total cost € 100 million) which is due to finish by 2010; The modernisation of the signalling systems of the Latvian East-West rail corridor (total cost € 90 million) which is due to finish by 2010; The access roads to the Ventspils Port Terminal (total cost € 28 million) which is due to finish by 2010.
Future projects: The first stage of the Rīga bypass – Koknese (estimated total cost € 291 million); Rail Baltica, in particular the reconstruction and development of TEN-T railway segments (estimated total cost € 80 million).
Estonia: The development of Via Baltica, in particular the construction of Pärnu bypass in Estonia (total cost € 43 million); The improvement of the accessibility of Baltic Sea islands, improving harbour facilities and airports on these islands (total cost € 46 million)
Lithuania: The design and construction of the railway ‘Rail Baltica’ which is planned to be co-financed from the Cohesion Fund (2007-2013) with an indicative total cost € 135 million and an indicative Cohesion Fund contribution € 97 million. The estimated implementation start date is the beginning of 2012.
Lithuania: The reconstruction and development of TEN-T railway segments including 6 projects co-financed from the Cohesion Fund (2000-2006) with a total cost of € 167 million. All projects are to be completed by the end of 2010.
Germany: The improvements to the Lübeck harbour in Schleswig Holstein (total cost € 13.1 million); The promotion of sailing tourism in Schleswig Holstein (total cost € 5.5 million); Major transport investments like the railway Berlin – Rostock (total cost € 315 million) and the highway A 14 (total cost € 1.4 billion).
Poland: The major transport investments being implemented are the road S 22 Elbląg-Grzechotki (€ 116 million) and part of E-65 railway Warsaw-Gdansk (€ 1.261 billion). In addition, there are planned projects: Rail Baltica (connection with Lithuanian border, € 182 million), continuation of E 65 railway (Warsaw-Gdańsk € 801 million), roads S7 (Gdańsk - Elbląg – € 346 million) and Via Baltica (Białystok-border with Lithuania – € 511 million) as well as the airports of Gdańsk (€ 149 million), Olsztyn (€ 74 million), Szczecin (€ 21 million) and Koszalin (under study Zegrze Pomorskie - € 13.82 million). These costs are estimates of the total costs.
Major infrastructure projects supported under the TEN-T Programme44.
The pillar ‘to make the Baltic Sea Region an accessible and attractive place’ covers the following priority areas:
10. To improve the access to, and the efficiency and security of the energy markets
11. To improve internal and external transport links
12. To maintain and reinforce attractiveness of the Baltic Sea Region in particular through education, tourism, culture and health
To improve the access to, and the efficiency and security of the energy markets |
Coordinated by Latvia and Denmark
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