The maintenance and extension of the European Transport Network based on the needs of the economy by eliminating bottlenecks and filling gaps has a high priority for the economy. Because well-performing roads, railways and inland waterways as well as efficient nodes such as airports, ports and terminals are a decisive prerequisite for an unhindered transport of persons and goods throughout Europe. A high quality of connections, flexibility and the possibility to calculate travel and delivery times reliably assure affluence and jobs. Much too often, however, interregional routes are congested because of alternatives are lacking. Congestion, diversions and additional costs for commuters and companies result. The aim of a forwardlooking European Transport Policy should be to maintain the transport network continuously and to enhance it consequently.

THE UECC THEREFORE DEMANDS:

• Accelerate the building of new and the extension of existing transborder connections within the European Union and with neighbouring states consequently!

• Position axes like the Rhine-Alpine-Corridor or the „Main Line for Europe“ (Paris -Budapest/Bratislava) in a stronger and more strategic way!

• Build far-reaching connections for the future by means of the Trans-European Networks, and connect them with the „Belt and Road Initiative (BIR)“!

• Promote the possibilities of digitalisation and automation of transport and the opportunities of digital information about transport connections! Reduce substantially the planning times for infrastructure projects, especially on axes that are crucial for Europe!

The high demand for and the overdraft of the 2014-2020 EU-budget „Connecting Europe Facility“ (CEF) clearly show the extent of the need for starting capital for European transport infrastructure. Many projects to fill gaps in transborder connections and to eliminate bottlenecks on crucial European axes do not have sufficient rentability – at least in the view of an individual member state. Subsidies here have proven most effective, as most often private investors cannot be found. In order to provide the high amount of finances needed for the core TEN-T as well as for the supporting net, the CEF-budget should be continued and enlarged after 2020.

THE UECC THEREFORE DEMANDS:

• Continue the „Connecting Europe Facility” as a program granting subsidies for starting projects!

• Return the only vaguely defined and heavily contested positions for „military mobility” in the CEF budget to the general CEF budget!

• Focus on financing transborder projects, projects with an added value from a European perspective and on transport technology!

The European transport network relies on optimal transborder connections for all modes of transport. Be it in goods transport along the logistic chain or in passenger transport: multimodality is a reality today already and will grow more strongly in future. A good example of this is the New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA) connecting Switzerland and Italy. It is one of the most important freight corridors connecting the seaports of Northern Europe via Germany with Northern Italy. The users themselves decide which means of transport they prefer in what situation, as becomes a liberal economic and social order. This is true for the economy as well as for private citizens.

THE UECC THEREFORE DEMANDS:

• Provide infrastructure on a European level, enable multimodality and promote it!

• Do not discourage multimodal transport by overzealous safety demands, disproportional environmental standards or noise regulations!

• Safeguard fair competition between the modes of transport, so the users can decide what is best for them in any given situation! Advance transborder network planning and reduce technical obstacles!