The European Union's 27 transport ministers are meeting today and tomorrow in Godollo, Hungary, for an informal Council meeting hosted by the Hungarian Presidency to discuss the review of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) policy. To facilitate the debate the Commission presented a document on TEN-T planning and implementation, which sums up the revision process so far and points out the direction for the final phase of this process.

European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said: "This review of the trans-European transport network policy comes at a crucial time for Europe. This will be a of vital help if European businesses are to remain competitive and we are to make transport more sustainable. We will need to effectively link the Eastern and Western parts of the Union so that all Member States enjoy full access to the internal market."

Vice-President Kallas pointed out that a renewed TEN-T policy can help to significantly boost economic growth and job creation. A better EU transport network is crucial to allowing citizens and businesses to reap the full benefits of the internal market and improving Europe's competitiveness.

TEN-T policy will also contribute to meeting the Europe 2020 targets on climate change by the European transport network more efficient which will lead to fewer resources being used.

Another important subject of discussion will be the preparation of the financing side of the TEN-T policy review. In June 2011, The Commission will make a comprehensive proposal for the post-2013 Multi-Annual Financial Framework. In TEN-T, the keys issues regarding financing are the better coordination of EU funds as well as the development of innovative financial instruments to better mobilise private financing.

The ministers' debate will be inspired by the Commission document that highlights the network planning methodology and suggests some new approaches to implementation. In particular, it explains the planning methodology to be used for the actual planning of this network. Moreover, it proposes innovative approaches to TEN-T implementation, notably by prioritising projects more clearly and the corridor approach, which should establish coordination structures for complex cross-border projects at the level of governance and financing. These corridor structures could help resolve various problems, ranging from getting a proper environmental impact assessment to the arrangement of appropriate financing.

On the basis of these discussions, the Commission plans to continue its work in close cooperation with the Member States to update the comprehensive network and to draft a new ''core network''. The multi-modal core network, should enable a concentration of traffic flows – both for freight and passengers – and, as a result of their integration, provide for a highly resource efficient infrastructure use. Innovative information and management systems that form part of the network, would support logistic functions, inter-modal integration and sustainable operation in order to establish competitive door-to-door, terminal-to-terminal transport chains, according to the needs of the users.