Considerations on COM(2021)812 - Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network

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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.

 
 
(1) The Commission Communication ‘The European Green Deal12 of December 2019 sets a climate neutrality objective to be achieved by the Union by 2050 as well as a clear objective to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Those objectives are set as a target in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council 13 .

(2) Transport emissions represent around 25% of the Union’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and these emissions have increased over recent years. The European Green Deal therefore calls for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport in order for the Union to become a climate-neutral economy by 2050, while working towards the zero-pollution ambition 14

(3) The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy 15  sets out milestones to show the European transport system’s path towards achieving the objectives of a sustainable, smart and resilient mobility. It envisages that rail freight traffic should increase its market share by 50% by 2030 and double by 2050; transport by inland waterways and short sea shipping should increase its market share by 25% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050; traffic on high-speed rail should double by 2030 and triple by 2050; at least 30 million zero-emission cars and 80,000 zero-emission trucks should be in operation on Union roads by 2030, and nearly all cars, vans and buses and new heavy-duty vehicles should be zero-emission by 2050; scheduled collective travel under 500 km should be carbon-neutral by 2030 within the Union; by 2030, there should be at least 100 climate-neutral cities in Europe.

(4) The realisation of the trans-European transport network creates the enabling conditions in terms of infrastructure basis allowing to make all transport modes more sustainable, affordable and inclusive, to make sustainable alternatives widely available in a multimodal transport system and to put in place the right incentives to drive the transition, notably by ensuring a fair transition, in line with the objectives presented in the Council Recommendation (EU) […] of […] on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality.

(5) The planning, development and operation of the trans-European transport network should enable sustainable forms of transport, provide for improved multimodal and interoperable transport solutions and for an enhanced intermodal integration of the entire logistic chain, thereby contributing to a smooth functioning of the internal market by creating the arteries that are necessary for smooth passenger and freight transport flows across the Union. In addition, the network should aim at strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion by ensuring accessibility and connectivity for all regions of the Union, including a better connectivity of the outermost regions and other remote, rural, insular, peripheral and mountainous regions as well as sparsely populated areas. The development of the trans-European transport network should also enable seamless, safe and sustainable mobility of goods and persons in all their diversity, and should contribute to further economic growth and competitiveness in a global perspective, by establishing interconnections and interoperability between national transport networks in a resource-efficient and sustainable way.

(6) Growth in traffic has resulted in increased congestion in international transport. In order to ensure the international mobility of passengers and goods, the capacity of the trans-European transport network and the use of that capacity should be optimised and, where necessary, expanded by removing infrastructure bottlenecks and bridging missing infrastructure links within and between Member States and, as appropriate, neighbouring countries, and taking into account the ongoing negotiations with candidate and potential candidate countries. 

(7) The trans-European transport network consists to a large extent of existing infrastructure. In order to fully achieve the objectives of the new trans-European transport network policy, uniform requirements regarding the infrastructure should be established.

(8) The trans-European transport network should be developed and sustained through the creation of new transport infrastructure, through the maintenance and upgrading of existing infrastructure and through measures promoting its resource-efficient use.

(9) In the implementation of projects of common interest, due consideration should be given to the particular circumstances of the individual project concerned. Where possible, synergies with other policies should be exploited, for instance with tourism aspects by including, within civil engineering structures such as bridges or tunnels, bicycle infrastructure for cycling paths, including the EuroVelo routes, or with security aspects by including new technologies such as sensors in bridges.

(10) In order to achieve a high-quality and efficient transport infrastructure across all modes, the development of the trans-European transport network should take into account the security and safety of passengers and freight movements, the contribution to climate change and the impact of climate change and of potential natural hazards and human-made disasters on infrastructure and accessibility for all transport users, especially in regions that are particularly affected by the negative impacts of climate change.

(11) When planning, procuring and implementing projects of common interest, Member States and other project promoters should give due consideration to Directive (EU) 2021/1187 of the European Parliament and the Council 16 .

(12) During infrastructure planning, Member States and other project promoters should give due consideration to the risk assessments and adaptation measures that seek to improve resilience, for example to climate change, natural hazards and human-made disasters. By providing further incentives to develop sustainable forms of transport and with the implementation of high-level standards for green transport infrastructure, the realisation of the trans-European transport network will support the “do no significant harm” principle.

(13) Given the evolution of the Union infrastructure needs and the decarbonisation goals, the Conclusions of the 2020 July European Council, according to which Union expenditure should be consistent with Paris Agreement objectives and the 'do no significant harm' principle, within the meaning of Article 17 of the Taxonomy Regulation 17 , projects of common interest should be assessed in order to ensure that TEN-T policy is coherent with transport, environmental and climate policy objectives of the Union. Member States and other project promoters should carry out environmental assessments of plans and projects which should include the “do no significant harm” assessment based on the latest available guidance and best practice. In cases that the implementation of a project of common interest entails a significant harm to an environmental or climate objective, reasonable alternatives should be considered.

(14) Infrastructure projects under the TEN-T Regulation should be resilient to the potential adverse impacts of climate change through a climate vulnerability and risk assessment, including through relevant adaptation measures. Projects for which an environmental impact assessment must be carried out should be subject to climate proofing and integrate the costs of greenhouse gas emissions and the positive effects of climate mitigation measures in the cost-benefit analysis. The climate proofing should be undertaken based on the latest available best practice and guidance 18 . This contributes to the integration of climate change-related risks as well as climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessments into investment and planning decisions under the Union budget.

(15) Member States and other project promoters should carry out environmental assessments of plans and projects according to the relevant legislation in order to avoid or, where avoidance is not possible, to mitigate or compensate for negative impacts on the environment, such as landscape fragmentation, soil sealing and air and water pollution as well as noise, and to protect biodiversity effectively.

(16) The interests of regional and local authorities, as well as those of the public concerned by a project of common interest, should be appropriately taken into account in the planning and construction phase of projects.

(17) The definition of the trans-European transport network should be based on a common and transparent methodology and should represent the highest level of infrastructure planning within the Union. It should be multimodal, that is to say it should include all transport modes and their connections as well as relevant traffic and travel information management systems.

(18) The trans-European transport network should be gradually developed in three steps with the overall aim to realise a multimodal and interoperable European wide network of high quality standards, while respecting the overall Union climate neutrality and environmental objectives: the completion of a core network by 2030, of an extended core network by 2040 and of the comprehensive network by 2050.

(19) Next to the deadlines of 2030 and 2050 that have already been introduced under Regulation (EU) 1315/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 19 , an intermediary deadline of 2040 for the compliance of the network with this Regulation should be added for the extended core network that is part of the European Transport Corridors. The same intermediary deadline should also apply for new standards on the core network that have been introduced in addition to the requirements in Regulation (EU) 1315/2013 as to allow for the necessary investments in due time.

(20) The comprehensive network should be a Europe-wide transport network ensuring the accessibility and connectivity of all regions in the Union, including the outermost regions and other remote, rural, insular, peripheral and mountainous regions as well as sparsely populated areas, and strengthening social, economic and territorial cohesion between them. The requirements for the infrastructure of the comprehensive network should be set in order to promote the development of a high-quality network throughout the Union.

(21) The comprehensive network should be sufficiently equipped with alternative fuels infrastructure in order to ensure that it effectively supports the transition to zero-emission mobility, in line with the milestones set in the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

(22) In addition to the core network, an extended core network should be defined on the basis of priority sections of the comprehensive network which are part of the European Transport Corridors.

(23) The core network has been identified on the basis of an objective planning methodology. That methodology has identified the most important urban nodes, ports and airports, as well as border crossing points. Wherever possible, those nodes are to be connected with multimodal links as long as they are economically viable and feasible by 2030. The methodology has ensured the interconnection of all Member States and the integration of the main islands into the core network.

(24) The core network with a deadline of 2030 and the extended core network with a deadline of 2040 should constitute the foundation of the sustainable multimodal transport network, representing the strategically most important nodes and links of the trans-European transport network, according to traffic needs. They should stimulate the development of the entire comprehensive network and enable Union action to concentrate on those components of the trans-European transport network with the highest European added value, in particular cross-border sections, missing links, multimodal connecting points and major bottlenecks.

(25) Certain existing standards of the core network should be extended to the extended core and comprehensive network in order to reap full network benefits, to increase interoperability between network types and to enable more activity by more sustainable forms of transport, including through higher digitalisation and other technological solutions.

(26) Exemptions from the infrastructure requirements applicable to the core, extended core and comprehensive network should be possible only in duly justified cases and subject to certain conditions. This should include cases where investment cannot be justified, or where there are specific geographic or significant physical constraints, for example in outermost regions and other remote, insular, peripheral and mountainous regions or in sparsely populated areas, or for isolated or partially isolated networks.

(27) The land-side infrastructure network, established through the core network, extended core network and comprehensive network, should integrate with the maritime dimension of the trans-European transport network. To this end, a truly sustainable, smart, seamless and resilient European Maritime Space should be created. It should encompass all maritime infrastructure components of the trans-European transport network.

(28) The European Maritime Space should be implemented in close cooperation with the European macro-regional and sea-basin strategies which provide a suitable European territorial cooperation framework both at transnational Union level and at cross-border level with third countries.

(29) The Rail Freight Corridors established on the basis of Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council 20 and the Core Network Corridors defined in Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 are complementary policy instruments, pursuing closely related objectives, in particular to boost sustainable, efficient and safe transport services. Although cooperation has been fruitful on many aspects, in some cases overlapping of activities and needs for a better exchange of information have been identified. Moreover, the Rail Freight Corridors and the Core Network Corridors are not entirely geographically aligned, limiting the possibility for coordination, for example on issues such as the deployment of the infrastructure requirements of the trans-European transport network or the improvement of the quality of railway services. There is therefore an important untapped potential for streamlining, increased effectiveness and synergies.

(30) As stated in the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, an integration of the Core Network Corridors and of the Rail Freight Corridors into ‘European Transport Corridors’ is needed to increase synergies between infrastructure planning and the operation of transport. The European Transport Corridors should become the instrument for the development of sustainable and multimodal freight and passenger transport flows in Europe and for the development of interoperable high quality infrastructure and operational performance. As such, they should also be the tool to realise the vision of creating a highly competitive rail network across the Union.  

(31) European Transport Corridors should cover the most important long-distance transport flows and consist of key European transport multimodal axis, based on parts of the trans-European transport network, be multimodal and open to the inclusion of all transport modes covered in this Regulation and cross at least two borders and involve at least three transport modes.

(32) In order to establish the trans-European transport network in a coordinated and timely manner, thereby making it possible to maximise network effects, Member States concerned should ensure that appropriate measures are taken to finalise the projects of common interest of the core, the extended core and the comprehensive network by the given deadlines 2030, 2040 and 2050 respectively. To this end, Member States should ensure that there is coherence of the national transport and investment plans with the priorities set out in this Regulation and in the work plans of the European Coordinators.

(33) It is necessary to identify projects of common interest which will contribute to the achievement of the trans-European transport network and which contribute to the achievement of the objectives and correspond to the priorities established in this Regulation. Their implementation should depend on their degree of maturity, on their compliance with Union and national legal procedures and on the availability of financial resources, without prejudging the financial commitment of a Member State or of the Union.

(34) Projects of common interest to develop the trans-European transport network in line with the requirements set out in this Regulation have European added value, as they contribute to a high-quality, interoperable and multimodal European network, increasing sustainability, cohesion, efficiency or user benefits. The European added value is higher if it leads, in addition to the potential value for the respective Member State alone, to significant improvements of transport connections or transport flows between Member States or between a Member State and a third country. Such cross-border projects should be the subject of priority intervention by the Union in order to ensure that they are implemented. 

(35) Member States and other project promoters should ensure that assessments of projects of common interest are carried out efficiently, avoiding unnecessary delays.

(36) Projects of common interest for which Union funding is sought should be the subject of a socio-economic cost-benefit analysis based on a recognised methodology, taking into account the relevant social, economic, climate-related and environmental benefits and costs as well as the life-cycle approach. The analysis of climate-related and environmental costs and benefits should be based on the environmental impact assessment carried out pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council 21

(37) In order to contribute to the climate reduction targets of the European Green Deal of a 90% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, measures to mitigate the greenhouse gas impacts of projects of common interest in the form of new, extended or upgraded transport infrastructures should be analysed.

(38) Cooperation with third countries, including neighbouring countries, is necessary in order to ensure connection and interoperability between the infrastructure networks of the Union and those countries. In view of this, where appropriate, the Union should promote projects of common interest with those countries, assessing and ensuring that the objectives and requirements of the trans-European transport network are complied with in order to ensure the interoperability of the Union network.

(39) To achieve transformation of the transport sector into a truly multimodal system of sustainable and smart mobility services, the Union should build a high quality transport network with rail services meeting minimum line speed. Competitive passenger rail has a high potential for the decarbonisation of transport. There is the need to develop a coherent and interoperable European high speed rail network linking its capitals and major cities. Complementing existing high speed lines with passenger lines at a minimum line speed of 160 km/h should in return lead to network effects, a more coherent network and an increased number of passengers travelling by rail. The completion of a high-performance network will also facilitate the development and introduction of new or different models of capacity allocation, for example interval-service timetables enabled by the Timetable Redesign (TTR) initiative.

(40) A more sustainable, resilient and reliable rail freight network across Europe should be established to contribute to the competitiveness of combined transport. The infrastructure for combined railway transport and of terminals should be upgraded to ensure that intermodal transport is primarily done by rail, inland waterways or short-sea shipping and that any initial and/or final legs carried out by road are as short as possible.  

(41) Given the fact that the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) in Europe is accelerating, and several Member States have already adopted plans to deploy ERTMS on their entire national rail networks by 2040, there is a need to take account of this paradigm shift and set a more ambitious ERTMS deployment deadline for the comprehensive network.

(42) ERTMS should be deployed in a continuous manner not only on the core network, extended core network and comprehensive network, including in the urban nodes, but also on access routes to multimodal terminals. This will enable operations with ERTMS only and boost the business case of railway undertakings.

(43) As deployment of a radio-based ERTMS further contributes to the elimination of national rules affecting operation, Member States should ensure that only radio-based ERTMS will be deployed from 2025 and the entire trans-European transport network equipped with radio-based ERTMS by 2050.

(44) ERTMS deployment should be coupled with a regulatory deadline for decommissioning of class B systems trackside, thus making ERTMS the only signalling system used in Member States. Decommissioning of class B systems trackside will bring about significant maintenance savings for infrastructure managers, as deploying ERTMS and keeping additional trackside systems for a prolonged period is very costly and complicated. Class B systems should be removed in a coordinated way with a sufficient transitional period, by 2040, allowing the railway undertakings to anticipate the change and adopt the most suitable migration strategy. ERTMS, being a system, requires a synchronised deployment both trackside and on-board and full system benefits only occur when both trains and trackside are equipped.

(45) Inland waterways in Europe are characterised by a heterogeneous hydro-morphology which hampers a coherent performance for all waterway stretches. Inland waterways, especially free flowing stretches, may be heavily impacted by climate and weather conditions. In order to ensure reliable international traffic, while respecting the hydro-morphology and applicable environmental legislation, TEN-T requirements should take into account the specific hydro-morphology of each waterway (for example free-flowing or regulated rivers) as well as the objectives of environmental and biodiversity policies. Such an approach should be considered at river basin level.

(46) Being the entry and exit points for the land infrastructure of the trans-European transport network, maritime ports play an important role as cross-border multimodal nodes which serve not only as transport hubs, but also as gateways for trade, industrial clusters and energy hubs, for example with regard to the deployment of off-shore wind installations.

(47) Short sea shipping can make a substantial contribution to the decarbonisation of transport by carrying more freight and passengers. The European Maritime Space should be promoted by creating or upgrading short-sea shipping routes and by developing maritime ports and their hinterland connections as to provide an efficient and sustainable integration with other modes of transport.

(48) Road transport in the Union accounts for three-quarters of the total inland freight transport (based on tonne-kilometres performed) and for around 90% of the total inland passenger transport (based on the total number of passenger kilometres). Given the importance of road transport and the commitment to improve road safety in line with the milestone of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, there is a need to enhance the road infrastructure from the safety point of view.

(49) The trans-European transport network should ensure efficient multimodality in order to allow better and more sustainable modal choices to be made for passengers and freight and in order to enable large volumes to be consolidated for transfers over long distances. Multimodal terminals should play a key role to meet this objective.

(50) Urban nodes play an important role on the trans-European transport network as starting point or final destination ("last mile") for passengers and freight moving on the trans-European transport network and are points of transfer within or between different transport modes. It should be ensured that capacity bottlenecks and an insufficient network connectivity within urban nodes do no longer hamper multimodality along the trans-European transport network.

(51) As an effective single framework for tackling urban mobility challenges, urban nodes should develop a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), which is a long-term, all-encompassing integrated freight and passenger mobility plan for the entire functional urban area 22 . It should include objectives, targets and indicators underpinning the current and future performance of the urban transport system, at minimum, on greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, accidents and injuries, modal share and access to mobility services, as well as data on air and noise pollution in cities.

(52) Member States should establish a national SUMP support programme aimed at promoting the uptake of SUMPs and improving coordination among regions, cities and towns. It should support regions and urban areas to develop high-quality SUMPs and reinforce monitoring and evaluation of the SUMP implementation through legislative measures, guidance, capacity building, assistance and possibly financial support.  

(53) The Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities, set up under the Horizon Europe framework programme, aims to have 100 climate neutral cities in the Union by 2030. The cities involved in the Mission will act as experimentation and innovation hubs for others to follow by 2050.

(54) Multimodal digital mobility services help to enhance the integration of the different transport modes by combining several transport offers into one. Their further development should contribute to nudge behaviours towards the most sustainable modes, public transport and active modes such as walking and cycling.

(55) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems for transport are necessary in order to provide the basis for optimising traffic and transport operations and traffic safety and improving related services. Information flows in the transport and mobility network should be facilitated, including through the deployment of the Union Mobility Data Space. Information to passengers, including information on ticketing and reservation systems, should be available.

(56) Intelligent transport systems and services as well as new emerging technologies should serve as a catalyst for the deployment of intelligent transport systems and services on all roads of the trans-European transport network.

(57) Adequate planning of the trans-European transport network is required. This also entails the implementation of specific requirements throughout the network in terms of infrastructure, ICT systems, equipment and services, including the requirements for the alternative fuel infrastructure rollout as defined in Regulation (EU) […] of the European Parliament and of the Council [on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure] 23 . It is therefore necessary to ensure adequate and concerted deployment of such requirements across Europe for each transport mode and for their interconnection across the trans-European transport network and beyond, in order to obtain the benefits of the network effect and to make efficient long-range trans-European transport operations possible. In order to ensure the deployment of alternative fuels across the entire road network of the trans-European transport network in line with the targets set in Regulation (EU) […] [on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure], references to ‘core network’ in Regulation (EU) […] [on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure] should be construed as references to ‘core network’ as defined in this Regulation. References to ‘comprehensive network’ in Regulation (EU) […] [on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure] should be construed as references to ‘extended core network’ and ‘comprehensive network’ as defined in this Regulation.

(58) The trans-European transport network should provide the basis for the large-scale deployment of new technologies and innovation, such as 5G infrastructure, which can help enhance the overall efficiency of the European transport sector and capacity to enable secure passenger flows using efficient means, make public or greener transport means more attractive for passengers, and reduce its carbon footprint. This will contribute towards the objectives of the European Green Deal and at the same time contribute to the objective of increasing energy security for the Union. In order to achieve those objectives, the availability of alternative fuels and related infrastructure should be improved throughout the trans-European transport network.

(59) A sufficient number of fast recharging points for light and heavy-duty vehicles accessible to the public should be deployed across the trans-European transport network. This aim should ensure full cross-border connectivity and allow electric vehicles to circulate throughout the Union. Distance-based targets for the trans-European transport network as defined in Regulation (EU) […] [on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure] are to ensure a minimum of sufficient coverage of electric recharging points along the Union’s main road networks. 

(60) Publicly accessible recharging infrastructure along the trans-European transport network as defined in Regulation (EU) […] [on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure] should be complemented with requirements on the deployment of recharging infrastructure in multimodal terminals and for multimodal passenger hubs, to provide charging opportunities for long haul trucks when they are being loaded or unloaded or when the driver is taking a rest or for busses in multimodal passenger hubs. In order to ensure free circulation, where the terminals or passenger hubs receive Union or public support, the access for purposes of charging, should be on fair, transparent and non-discriminatory basis, so as to avoid market lock in for specific enterprises or possible distortions of competition. Pricing should be made on transparent and non-discriminatory basis for all authorised undertakings or persons, where the charging infrastructure is build using Union or public funding.

(61) Insufficient safety, security and reliability of the infrastructure, caused by natural hazards, including climate related events and other exceptional occurrences such as pandemics, human-made disasters such as accidents, or disruptions caused by intentional acts such as terrorism and cyber-attacks, is a major problem for the efficiency and functioning of the trans-European transport network. For instance, accidents caused by several natural disasters due to extreme weather events have interrupted the transport flows significantly in the past years. The resilience of the transport network to climate change, natural hazards, human-made disasters and other disruptions should hence be improved, drawing on the risk assessment and resilience enhancing measures taken by critical entities for the transport sector pursuant to Directive […] on the resilience of critical entities 24 .

(62) Taking stock of the experience with regard to the crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic 25 and in order to avoid traffic disruptions and contingencies in future, Member States should take into account the security and resilience of the transport infrastructure to climate change, natural hazards, human-made disasters and other disruptions affecting the functioning of the Union transport system, when planning infrastructure. To that aim, the European Transport Corridors should also include important diversionary lines which can be used in case of congestion or other problems on the principal routes. In addition, due to their multimodal nature, one mode can substitute the other in case of emergencies.

(63) The participation of undertakings, including those, which are owned or controlled by a natural person of a third country or an undertaking of a third country, including those, which are established in a third country, can accelerate the realisation of the trans-European transport network. However, under specific circumstances, the participation of or contribution by undertakings owned or controlled by a natural person of a third country or an undertaking of a third country to projects of common interest might compromise security and public order in the EU. Without prejudice and in addition to the cooperation mechanism pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/452 26 , greater awareness of such participation or contribution is necessary to allow intervention of public authorities if it appears that they are likely to affect security or public order in the Union and the participation or contribution does not fall under the scope of Regulation (EU) 2019/452.

(64) While maintenance is and will remain the main responsibility of the Member States, it is important that the trans-European transport network – once built – is properly maintained to ensure a high quality of services. A life cycle approach should be followed when planning and procuring infrastructure projects.

(65) In order to implement parts of the trans-European transport network of highest strategic importance within the given timescale, a corridor approach should be used as an instrument to coordinate different projects on a transnational basis and to synchronise the development of the corridor, thereby maximising network benefits.

(66) European Transport Corridors should help to develop the infrastructure of the trans-European transport network in such a way as to address bottlenecks, enhance cross-border connections and improve efficiency and sustainability. They should contribute to cohesion through improved territorial cooperation. They should also address wider transport policy objectives and facilitate interoperability, modal integration and multimodal operations. The corridor approach should be transparent and clear and the management of such corridors should not create additional administrative burdens or costs.

(67) In agreement with the Member State concerned, European Coordinators should facilitate the coordinated implementation of the European Transport Corridors and of the two horizontal priorities, ERTMS and European Maritime Space. They should facilitate measures to design the right governance structure and to identify the priority investments along the European Transport Corridors and of the two horizontal priorities.

(68) The European and national frameworks for transport infrastructure planning and implementation as well as work plans established by the European Coordinators should contribute to the timely schedule and planning of investments necessary for the achievement of the objectives of this Regulation.

(69) The work plans of the European Coordinators should be used to promote cooperation between all relevant stakeholders, to strengthen complementarity with actions by Member States and infrastructure managers and in particular to set the milestones and priorities for investments. Based on the work plans, the Commission should adopt implementing acts setting out the priorities for infrastructure planning and for funding. 

(70) The technical basis of the maps specifying the trans-European transport network is provided by the interactive geographical and technical information system for the trans-European transport network (TENtec). 

(71) Taking into account the Union Action Plan on Military Mobility of March 2018 27 the Commission should assess the need to adapt the trans-European transport network to reflect the military use of the infrastructure. Based on the gap analysis between the trans-European transport network and the military requirements 28 additional roads and railways should be included in the trans-European network to enhance the synergies between civilian and military transport networks.

(72) In order to maximise consistency between the guidelines and the programming of the relevant financial instruments available at Union level, trans-European transport network funding should comply with this Regulation and be based, in particular, on Regulation (EU) No 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council 29 . In addition, network funding should also build on funding and financing instruments provided under other Union law, including InvestEU, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Cohesion Policy, Horizon Europe and other financing instruments established by the European Investment Bank. To enable the financing of projects of common interest, references to ‘multimodal logistics platforms’, ‘motorways of the sea’ and ‘telematic applications’ in Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 should be respectively construed as references to ‘multimodal freight terminals’, ‘European Maritime Space’ and ‘ICT systems for transport’ as defined in this Regulation. For the same purpose, references to ‘core network’ in Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 should be construed as including ‘extended core network’ as defined in this Regulation.

(73) The achievement of the objectives of the trans-European transport network, in particular with regard to the decarbonisation and digitalisation of the transport system in the Union, requires a robust regulatory framework. Ambitious reforms should be implemented by Member States to address the challenges of sustainable transport as identified in the European Semester. The Recovery and Resilience Facility supports both reforms and investments to make transport more sustainable, reduce emissions, improve safety and efficiency. Relevant measures to that effect are included in approved Recovery and Resilience Plans.

(74) In order to update the maps and the list of ports, airports, terminals and urban nodes included in Annexes I and II to take into account possible changes resulting from the actual usage of certain elements of transport infrastructure analysed against pre-established quantitative thresholds, the power to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amendments to Annexes I and II. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making 30 . In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(75) Some parts of the network are managed by actors other than Member States. However, Member States are responsible for ensuring that the rules governing the network are correctly applied within their territory.

(76) In order to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the obligations laid down in this Regulation, the Commission supports Member States through the Technical Support Instrument 31 providing tailor-made technical expertise to design and implement reforms, including those promoting the development of the trans-European transport network.

(77) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission as regards implementing acts which specify reference water levels and minimum requirements per river basin (good navigation status), which define a single entity for the construction and management of cross-border infrastructure projects of common interest, which establish a methodology for the urban mobility data to be collected by Member States and implementing acts for each work plan of the European Transport Corridors and the two horizontal priorities as well as for the implementation of specific sections of the European Transport Corridor or for the implementation of specific transport infrastructure requirements of the European Transport Corridor or of the horizontal priorities. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council 32 .

(78) Since the objectives of this Regulation, in particular the coordinated establishment and development of the trans-European transport network, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the need for coordination of those objectives, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(79) It is necessary to amend Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 in order to adapt its provisions with the view to integrating the Core Network Corridors into European Transport Corridors. The definition and the alignment of the European Transport Corridors will be defined in this Regulation and will replace the Core Network Corridors as defined in that Regulation.

(80) It is necessary to amend Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 in order to adapt its provisions with the view to integrating the Rail Freight Corridors into European Transport Corridors.

(81) Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 should be repealed.