TEN (Trans-European Network) to program pomocowy Unii Europejskiej funkcjonujący jako odrębna linia budżetowa w budżecie UE. Program ten ukierunkowany jest na wspieranie rozwoju transeuropejskich sieci transportowych (TEN-T), energetycznych (TEN-E) oraz telekomunikacyjnych (e-TEN).
Within the frames of the TEN-T budget large projects of common interest may be financed, the main goal of which is the development of the common European Union market through supporting:
- balanced development of the transport networks,
- interoperability of the transport system and its coherence with other types of transport,
- environment protection and the increase of the safety standards,
- increase in employment and economic growth stimulation in peripheral regions requiring the support,
- improving communication between the island regions with a central part of the European continent.
First of all, the projects concerning the development of the cross-border transport systems are supported as well as the projects submitted by more than one country, projects of high technologies concerning, for example, the implementation and improving the traffic management systems and the safety systems.
The TEN-T budget
In the application procedure, the studio and investment projects are differentiated, for which two separate application forms were developed. The co-financing thresholds from the TEN-T budget are as follows: studio projects - 50% of the total qualified costs; investment projects - 10 %; cross-border projects - 20%. The aid may also have the form of subsidy for the credits and credit guarantees of the European Investment Bank or another financial institution.
Due to the relatively low co-financing degree for the investment projects (10 - 20%) GDDKiA has applied only for the means for co-financing the realization of the study projects so far (co-financed on the level of 50%). The attempts to finance the investment projects were directed at the sources with potentially higher co-financing rates such as the Coherence Fund, European Regional Development Fund, the loans from the International Financial Institutions or the National Road Fund.
The budget of TEN-T was divided into two parts:
• MIP – Multiannual Indicative Perspective – a part of the Multi-annual co-financing
• Non-MIP – The part remaining to be disposed of within the frames of the annual financial decisions
Poland, so far has had the possibility to apply for the means within the frames of the annual budget.
A legal basis to undertake the activities connected with financing of selected undertakings is the European Union treaty and in particular the Chapter XV, in which the articles 154,155 and 156, as the goal of the Community define the support for the European Transport Network as a key elements in the development of the common market of the Union.
The management of the TEN-T budget
A basic tool for the TEN-T budget management is the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-TEA) established in 2001. During a close cooperation with the General Directorate of the Energy and Transport European Commission TEN – TEA will have at its disposal the budget of about 1 billion Euro a year.
The main tasks of TEN-TEA include the following:
• Assuring technical and financial management of the undertakings co-financed from the TEN-T means,
• Collecting, analysis and transferring to the European Commission all the data necessary in the development of the Trans-European Transport network and the assistance in programming its future development,
• Confirming the consistency of the co-financed projects with the adopted principle of the transport policy of the Community and the financial principles generally adopted for the Trans-European Transport Network,
• Assurance of technical support for the institutions responsible for the financial instruments management such as guarantees and loans necessary for the realization of the undertakings,
• Assurance of any technical and administration support necessary for the European Commission and connected with the operations and extension of the TEN-T network.
The basic source of information on the possibilities to obtain support, the conditions necessary to be fulfilled and the possibilities to apply for the means include the regulations and decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union presented below:
- Regulation of the EU Council No 2236/95 defining the general principles for granting the Community financial aid in the area of Trans-European networks
- Regulation No 1655/99 of the European Parliament and the EU Council of 19 July 1999
- Regulation No 807/2004 of the European Parliament and the EU Council of 21 April 2004 amending the Regulation No 2236/1995
- Regulation No 680/2007 of the European Parliament and the EU Council of 20 June 2007
- Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and the EU Council defining the Community guidelines for the development of the Trans-European transport network
- Decision No 1346/2001/EC of the European Parliament and the EU Council of 22 May 2001 amending the Decision No 1692/96/EC
- Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and the EU Council of 29 April 2004 amending the Decision No 1692/96/EC
The course of the Trans-European Transport Network in Poland and its main connections with the general European system is presented by the following maps:
- Map of the road sections of the TEN-T network in Poland
- Map of the railway overhead lines sections TEN-T in Poland
- Map of the Polish airports and inland harbors in the TEN-T network
- Map of the Polish network of the roads and inland harbors in the TEN-T network
- Map of the Polish Marine harbors of the A category in the TEN-T network
Within the frames of the TEN-T programme there 30 key projects separated for which the financing was assured with the Decision No 884/2004/EC of the European Parliament and the EU Council of 29 April 2004 amending the Decision No 1692/96/EC.
Through the territory of Poland there are four priority projcts crossing.
- Railway axle Gdańsk – Warszawa – Brno/Bratysława – Wiedeń
- Motorway Gdańsk – Brno/Bratysława – Wiedeń
- Railway axle „Rail Baltica” Warszawa – Kowno – Ryga –Tallin – Helsinki
- Marine motorway on the Baltic Sea
A detailed map of the priority projects in the TEN network
The Trans-European Network programme is a financial instrument which was designed so as to operate in the synergy with the Structural Funds, the Coherence Fund and the system of loans and guarantees offered by the European Investment Bank. Within the frames of the new financial perspective for the years 2007 – 2013 the European Commission proposes to allocate 20,35 bn EUR for the development of the TEN-T network.
The application forms can be found on the website of the ministry of transport - Applications
Important links, at which one can find more information about means, undertakings and procedures within TEN-T:
Trans European Networks
Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-TEA)