Chairperson of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget Mr Predrag Sekulić and member of the Committee Mr Genci Nimanbegu took part in the inter-parliamentary conference “Transport Connections of Europe” which was held today. The conference, which took place in Tallinn, was organised for the chairpersons of the economic affairs committees within the parliamentary dimension of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Following the introductory speeches by President of the Riigikogu Mr Eiki Nestor and Chairperson of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Mr Sven Sester, the participants held a discussion in three sessions.

During the first session titled “EU transport policy for Connecting Europe”, the panellists pointed out that development of Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) was exceptionally significant for achieving EU common goals. It was also pointed out that, within the EU financial framework, the support to the infrastructure projects affecting economic safety and stronger integration of the inner market was crucial. Strategic cross-border  projects of the EU member states contributing the most to connectivity should remain an EU priority. In the context of European connections, it is vital that funding for the corridors of the Trans-European Transport Network is not decreased.

The discussion of the participants focused on the key challenges of funding and implementation of the large EU cross-border transport projects, identifying the missing links in the EU transport network and which should be encompassed in financial perspective, financial instruments of the transport policy, projects contributing the most to connectivity etc.