EFIP Calls For Stronger EU-Led Transport Funding For Inland Ports

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The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) has raised significant concerns about the European Commission’s proposed changes to the EU transport budget, emphasizing the critical need for a strong, EU-led transport funding framework. The following key points summarize EFIP’s stance and recommendations.

EFIP’s Concerns

  1. Fragmentation of Funding:
    • The Commission’s plan to transfer transport funding to national plans could fragment investments, risking incoherence in European infrastructure development.
    • Inland ports, which depend on cohesive, continent-wide planning, are particularly vulnerable to inconsistent national agendas.
  2. Threat to Inland Ports:
    • Without EU-managed funds, investments in inland ports—essential for hinterland connectivity, multimodal logistics, and cross-border trade—may be deprioritized.
    • Smaller inland port projects could lose out when competing with large-scale national or cross-border initiatives.
  3. Risk to EU Priorities:
    • Fragmented funding jeopardizes goals like the European Green Deal, energy transition, and digitalization, as well as the development of sustainable and resilient logistics networks.
  4. Administrative and Conditional Barriers:
    • Linking funding to national reforms or imposing cross-sectoral conditions could delay or obstruct critical investments in inland port infrastructure.

Key Recommendations for the EU Transport Budget

  1. Dedicated Funding for Inland Ports:
    • Establish a strong, dedicated budget for inland port projects within the EU’s transport infrastructure instrument.
    • Ensure smaller and medium-sized projects receive equitable support.
  2. Alignment with Societal Goals:
    • Prioritize investments in projects advancing energy transition, digitalization, resilience, and sustainable logistics.
  3. Recognize Inland Ports’ Strategic Role:
    • Inland ports, while not strictly cross-border entities, play a vital role in the EU-wide transport network and cross-border trade flows.
    • Avoid making the “cross-border” criterion a strict requirement for funding eligibility.
  4. Simplification of Processes:
    • Streamline funding application procedures to make access easier for inland ports and reduce administrative burdens.
  5. Fair Distribution Across Transport Modes:
    • Guarantee funding allocation across all sustainable transport modes, particularly inland waterways.

The Strategic Role of Inland Ports

Inland ports are pivotal to Europe’s logistics and transport systems, enabling:

  • Efficient goods movement and multimodal connectivity.
  • Support for energy security and the transition to green transport.
  • Contributions to the European economy’s competitiveness and resilience.

A robust, EU-led funding framework is essential to sustain their role in building a greener, more interconnected Europe.

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Source: EFIP