Connecting Europe Conference, Tallinn

Talinn, Het presidentieel paleis van Kadrior
date September 21, 2017 08:00 - September 22, 2017 14:00
city Tallinn, Estonia
location Nordea Concert Hall, Rävala pst 12, Tallinn, Estonia Show location
attending (Catherine) Trautmann i, (Dominique) Riquet i, (Karima) Delli i, M. (Maroš) Sefčovič i, (Petri) Sarvamaa i, (Carlo) Secchi, (Pat) Cox i, V. (Violeta) Bulc i, J. (Jüri) Ratas i et al.
organisation Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) i

The Connecting Europe conference focuses on investments into the European Union's trans-European transport network (TEN-T) with the aim of identifying policy actions, priorities and financing solutions for such in the post-2020 EU financial framework. The purpose of the conference is to gather compelling and tangible information on the state of play of TEN-T implementation and financing thus far, while also identifying different financing opportunities for the future.

The TEN-T strategic framework and the long-term infrastructure plans are essential to achieving the EU's common objectives:

  • economic growth, jobs and competitiveness of the EU economy
  • efficient functioning of the EU single market
  • low-emissions and smart mobility
  • trade and connectivity with third countries

For these purposes, we need to complete the TEN-T core transport network by 2030, and the comprehensive network by 2050.

The conference is organised by the European Commission and the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Opening remarks will be made by Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, and Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič.

This will be followed by a high-level plenary session with the participation of European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc, Minister for Economic Affairs and Infrastructure of Estonia Kadri Simson, and the Chairperson of the Transport Committee of European Parliament Karima Delli. President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Werner Hoyer will also deliver a key note at the conference.

The sessions following the high-level plenary will concentrate on looking at existing and future investment opportunities for infrastructure. The following day will examine the question of how to overcome TEN-T missing links and bottlenecks; including, for example, the Rail Baltic project and how to bring about more innovative solutions in smart and low-emission mobility. The latter shows the synergies between transport and energy and digital sector.

In addition, an exhibition of different Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funded transport projects will be available at the venue, and a dinner will be organized for all conference participants at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds on the evening of the 21 September.

The conference is expected to have approximately 1 500 attendees and be a gathering of essential stakeholders: EU ministers, members of the European Parliament and the European Commission, TEN-T coordinators, European Investment Bank and National Promotional Banks, ministers from Europe's neighbouring countries, project promoters, investors, international transport organisations, and members of transport and financing sectors.

We will have an opportunity to collectively identify transport investment and financing needs for the post-2020 EU financial framework; without prejudging the future proposal and the legislative process.

Registration, programme and more information can be found on the conference website.

There will be a live stream of the event.

Agenda

Thursday, 21 September 2017

8.30-9.30

Registration

9.30-11.00

Journalist seminar (closed session)

Speakers

  • Jean-Louis Colson, Head of Unit B1, DG MOVE, European Commission
  • Frédéric Versini, Deputy Head of Unit B1, DG MOVE, European Commission
  • Olivier Silla, Head Of Unit B2, DG MOVE, European Commission
  • Antongiulio Marin, Deputy Head Of Unit B2, DG MOVE, European Commission

9.30-10.45

Workshop: Showing the impact of the CEF Transport Programme - dialogue with beneficiaries

Speakers

  • Maja Bakran, Deputy Director-General, DG MOVE, European Commission
  • Dirk Beckers, Director Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA)

10.45-12.30

Workshop: Cross-border projects, governance and financing

Speakers

  • Raffaele Zurlo, CEO BBT SE
  • Luděk Sosna, Director of the Strategy Department, Ministry of Transport, Czech Republic
  • Harold Nyssens, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Competition, European Commission
  • Baiba Rubesa, Chairperson of the Management Board and CEO of RB Rail AS

12.30-14.30

Lunch

14.30-14.40

Welcome address

  • Jüri Ratas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia

14.40-14.50

Keynote speech

  • Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission

14.50-15.45

Connecting Europe

Discussion moderated by Henrik Hololei, Director General, DG MOVE, European Commission, between:

  • Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport
  • Kadri Simson, Minister for Economic Affairs and Infrastructure of the Republic of Estonia
  • Karima Delli, MEP, Chairwoman of the TRAN Committee, European Parliament

15.45-15.55

Keynote speech

  • Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank

15.55-16.30

Investing in and for Europe

Discussion moderated by Henrik Hololei, Director General, DG MOVE, European Commission, between:

  • Pat Cox, European Coordinator
  • Jerzy Kwieciński, State Secretary, Poland
  • Petri Sarvamaa, Vice-Chair of the BUDG Committee, European Parliament
  • Sophie Barbier, Director European affairs department, Caisse des Dépôts

16.45-17.00

Coffee break

17.00-18.30

Debating future investment policy

Interactive debate with the audience, moderated by Pat Cox, European Coordinator, with short statements from speakers:

  • Giorgio Chiarion Casoni, Head of Unit, DG ECFIN, Financing of Climate Change, Infrastructure Policies and Euratom, European Commission
  • Ed Clarke, Cofounder and Director, Infracapital, infrastructure equity arm of M&G
  • Thierry Déau, Founder/CEO, Meridiam and Member of the EFSI Investment Committee
  • Eero Pargmäe, Commercial Director, Tallinn Airport
  • Paul Mazataud, Co-Chair PRIME subgroup on financing and Director SNCF Réseau
  • Jens Larsson, Senior Manager Public Affairs, Gothenburg Port Authority
  • Jan Bron, Governor for mobility, Twente region
  • Mariusz Piatkowski, CEO, Trasa Łagiewnicka S.A.
  • Gediminas Almantas, CEO, Lithuanian Airports

16.30-18.00

Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting (closed session)

Friday, 22 September 2017

8.30-9.00

Registration

09.00-09.10

Keynote speech

  • Carlo Secchi, European Coordinator
  • Kurt Bodewig, European Coordinator

9.10-9.20

Keynote speech

  • Dominique Riquet, Vice-Chair of the TRAN Committee, European Parliament

09.20-09.30

Keynote address

  • Friends of CEF EU Transport Coalition

9.30-11.00

Delivering on TEN-T missing links and bottlenecks

Discussion moderated by Jean-Eric Paquet, Deputy Secretary-General, European Commission

Speakers:

  • Herald Ruijters, Director, DG MOVE.B, European Commission
  • Raffaele Zurlo, CEO BBT SE
  • Konrad Bergmeister, CEO BBT SE
  • Baiba Rubesa, Chairperson of the Management Board and CEO of RB Rail AS
  • Ralph Gallob, CEO, ILL/Linz, ILR/Giurgiu, Ruse
  • Vinci-Tours-Bordeaux (tbc)

11.00-11.30

Coffee break

11.30-13.00

Delivering a smart and low-emission mobility

Discussion moderated by Maja Bakran, Deputy Director-General, DG MOVE, European Commission

Speakers:

  • Catherine Trautmann, European Coordinator
  • Martina Colombo, Head of Business Development, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (tbc)
  • Aivars Starikovs, Member of the board of Latvian Hydrogen Association
  • Anja Van Niersen, CEO Allego
  • Martin Böhm, AustriaTech, General Secretary of C-Roads
  • Neil Valentine, Head of Division, EIB

13.00

Conference conclusions

  • Kadri Simson, Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure of the Republic of Estonia
  • Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport

13.30

Lunch


1.

Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA)

The Innovation & Networks Executive Agency (INEA) manages infrastructure and research projects in the fields of transport, energy and telecommunications.

Specifically this means the following EU programmes:

  • Connecting Europe Facility (€30bn in funding): transport, energy and digital telecommunications
  • 2 strands (€7bn in funding) of the EU's main research funding programme, Horizon 2020:
    • Smart green and integrated transport
    • Secure, clean and efficient energy

2.

More about...

3.

More info