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The EU programme "trans-European networks"--a critical assessment

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  • Sichelschmidt, H.

Abstract

The paper deals with the "Trans-European Networks" (TEN) concept adopted by the European Union. Along the lines drawn by the theory of fiscal federalism, an assessment is made about the appropriate division of labour between various layers of administration. It is shown that the competences and activities of the European Commission in the TEN programme are much more comprehensive than could theoretically be justified. In its present form, the programme raises many problems, especially of mixed financial responsibilities, of biased incentives to Member States' governments and of the economic feasibility of the intended modal shift towards rail transport. The programme seems overloaded with primarily non-economic (distributional or environmental) goals. Therefore, its contribution to the real task of more rational infrastructure planning appears doubtful. Consequently, the paper urges that EU competences and financial engagement should at least not be expanded, and any form of taxation or debt financing by EU authorities should be avoided.

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  • Sichelschmidt, H., 1999. "The EU programme "trans-European networks"--a critical assessment," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 6(3), pages 169-181, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:6:y:1999:i:3:p:169-181
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ginés De Rus, 2007. "Economic Evaluation and Incentives in Transport Infrastructure Investment," Chapters, in: Massimo Florio (ed.), Cost–Benefit Analysis and Incentives in Evaluation, chapter 6, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Adler, Nicole & Pels, Eric & Nash, Chris, 2010. "High-speed rail and air transport competition: Game engineering as tool for cost-benefit analysis," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 44(7), pages 812-833, August.
    4. Santos, Georgina & Behrendt, Hannah & Teytelboym, Alexander, 2010. "Part II: Policy instruments for sustainable road transport," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 46-91.
    5. Islam, Dewan Md Zahurul & Fabian Meier, J. & Aditjandra, Paulus T. & Zunder, Thomas H. & Pace, Giuseppe, 2013. "Logistics and supply chain management," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 3-16.
    6. Knowles, Richard D. & Matthiessen, Christian W., 2009. "Barrier effects of international borders on fixed link traffic generation: the case of Øresundsbron," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 155-165.
    7. Short, Jack & Kopp, Andreas, 2005. "Transport infrastructure: Investment and planning. Policy and research aspects," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 360-367, July.
    8. Jiang, Changmin & Zhang, Anming, 2014. "Effects of high-speed rail and airline cooperation under hub airport capacity constraint," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 33-49.
    9. van Exel, Job & Rienstra, Sytze & Gommers, Michael & Pearman, Alan & Tsamboulas, Dimitrios, 2002. "EU involvement in TEN development: network effects and European value added," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 299-311, October.

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