EC to boost energy and transport funding
15 July 2011
European Construction Federation (FIEC) president, Luisa Todini, said that she was pleased with the European Comission's (EC) proposed "Connecting Europe" facility that would fund the EU's most needed infrastructure projects.
She added that the construction industry would fight to safeguard the proposed € 40 billion in the negotiations that will take place between the European Parliament and the Council - after proposed funds for the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) for the last multi-financial framework were cut from € 22 billion to € 8 billion.
It is hoped that from the proposed facility € 31,6 billion will be dedicated to transport infrastructure, as well as a further € 24 billion to come from the Cohesion Fund. This would mean that between 2014 and 2020, at least € 55 billion would be spent on transport infrastructure, which is an increase of € 5 billion on the current financial framework.
Ms Todini went on to explain that, according to the Commission, during the 2014 to2020 period approximately € 200 billion would be needed to complete the trans-European energy networks, while the TEN-T would require € 540 billion.
The commitment shown by the EC to increase participation by the Cohesion Fund in financing energy efficiency projects has been praised by FIEC. However, the federation went on to express its regret at the lack of additional support for the new Energy Efficiency Fund in the next Financial Perspective.
Of € 376 billion, including the Connecting Europe Facility, allocated to the Cohesion Policy, € 15.2 billion is allocated to education and training - something Ms Todini views as important. "The young people of today are the qualified workers of tomorrow," she said.
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