Future of the TEN-T Core Network Corridors
12:15 / Registration13:00 / Welcome & Opening
Jens Nilsson (S&D)Member of European Parliament,
Committee on Transport and Tourism
13:05 / Key notes
Herald RuijtersDirector, DG MOVE, European Commission
Mervi KaikkonenSenior Specialist, Permanent representation of Finland to the EU
Åsa WebberDeputy Permanent Representative, Sweden
13:30 / Debate
Connecting Europe: Needs and potential of the transport system
Indrek TarandMember of European Parliament
Kaspars BriškensRB Rail AS, Business Development Manager
Paul HeggeLineas, Director Public Affairs & Corporate Social Responsibility
Jan LahenkorvaVice President, Sustainable Development Committee,
Region Gävleborg, Sweden
Svein EggesvikExecutive of Transportation, Nordland County, Norway
Esa HalmeMayor, Tampere Region, Finland
14:30 / Q&A
Connecting Europe: Seizing the opportunities ahead
14:55 / Closing
Merja Kyllönen (GUE/NGL)Member of European Parliament, Committee on Transport and Tourism
Moderators
Malla PaajanenChief adviser, Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council
Joakim BergProject leader, Bothnian Corridor
Tapping the potential of the North
Wednesday 18 October 2017
MEPs Jens Nilsson and Merja Kyllönen, together with S&D and GUE/NGL, wish to invite you to a discussion on the future of the TEN-T Core Network Corridors – Tapping the potential of the North.
Northern Finland, Northern Sweden and Northern Norway are located in the middle of the new global crossroads East-Westbound and North-Southbound with major infrastructure challenges and opportunities. The infrastructure in the concerned regions connects the northern part of the Northern Axis with the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor and the North Sea-Baltic Corridor. The main railway sections are part of “Other part of the Core Network” as specified in REGULATION (EU) No 1316/2013.
The regions have a long tradition of mining, forestry and fishery activities. North Sweden accounts for 90 percent of the iron ore production in the EU and together with Finland supply substantial amounts of other necessary critical minerals for the European industry, e.g. copper, gold and lithium. Norway is the main supplier of fish and aquaculture products to the EU, providing 23% of all imported seafood. In 2016, around half of these products, worth 2-3 billion euros, originated from the Arctic regions of Norway. More than 25% of global oil and gas reserves are located in the European Arctic as well as 70 percent of the forest area, which comprise the main source of wood for pulp, paper, timber and biomass in Europe.
The connection between Northern Finland, Northern Sweden and Northern Norway forms a vital route of international trade in the production of iron ore, minerals and other industrial production, fisheries and aquaculture, vital for the EU economy. The accessibility to the EU core markets for raw materials requires functional rail and maritime connections; therefore, securing the timely implementation of the current TEN-T Core Network is crucial. A functional transport system in the northern regions is necessary for the transnational flow of goods within and to/from the EU, contributing to the proper function of the Internal Market.
The S&D and GUE/NGL would like to invite you to a discussion on the future of the TEN-T Core Network Corridors and their importance to induce regional development, to improve the conditions strengthening industrial competitiveness and to contribute to environmental sustainability and to the goals of the COP21. What are the necessary next steps to ensure the full implementation of the Core Network by 2030?