Building on the will over the last 20 years to provide Europe with a fully integrated trans-European transport network (TEN-T), the European Commission issued, in December 2013, the new guidelines for its implementation and its financial instrument Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

While the attainment of an all-integrated European area at the service of the single market implies a coherent strategy at EU level, transports issues are of the highest importance for regional policy objectives. Thus, the AER WG on Transport gathered on 30 April to discuss whether and where the TEN-T is driving European regions together with DG MOVE, DG REGIO, the business sector (CER, UIC), EURAC Research experts.

Hosted by the Region East Sweden (SE), the event welcomed over 40 stakeholders who shared their negotiations and funds’ leveraging experience, as well as best practices in transport-related territorial cooperation. The discussion highlighted the inherent necessity to adopt an encompassing approach integrating accessibility, environmental, economic and social concerns to transport policy. It pointed out the constraints related to the current tense state of EU neighbourhood policy.