TRANS-EUROPEAN TRANSPORT NETWORKS: THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITALY
"Italy can play a key role in the Euro-Mediterranean transportation of goods with its logistics infrastructure and transport networks." This was stated by the President of the CNEL Tiziano Treu, opening the conference “Trans-European transport networks. Italian corridors and projects" promoted and organized by the EESC, the European Economic and Social Committee, at the CNEL in Rome. It was followed by the introductory report of the EESC Vice President of the TEN Section Alberto Mazzola and then the speeches of the Head of the Technical Structure of the Mission of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Giuseppe Catalano, the Infrastructure and Transport Manager of the CGIL Industrial Policy Area Sergio Genco and the President of Adiconsum Carlo De Masi. During the debate, the future potential of the TEN-T Networks was examined both at Italian and European and global level.
Railway transport will play a key role in the coming decades, as it is more sustainable than road and air transport. According to the objectives of the European Union, by 2030 30% of goods transportation beyond 300 km will be carried out by train or along inland waterways (percentage that will rise to 50% by 2050). The current European HS railway network will be tripled and cars powered by traditional fuels in urban transport will be reduced by 50%.
Italy is in a strategic position, being affected by four of the nine corridors of the TEN-T core network: Rhine-Alps, Mediterranean, Scandinavia-Mediterranean Corridor and the Baltic-Adriatic, fundamental to increase connections between European markets.
“It is essential to complete the most urgent works for the country-system. The scenario emerging from the European context outlines a picture of great opportunity for Italy. A revision of the structure of European transport networks is planned in the coming months, in which the 4 major Italian networks can play a leading role. Resources and investments are decisive in particular to strengthen the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic backbone and the link with the South ", concluded Treu.
The development of the European TEN-T corridors will also be a driving force for the Belt and Road Initiative (the New Silk Road promoted by China), which is directing huge infrastructure investments towards Eastern Europe. In fact, in the next few years, ports and land routes towards Asia will increase their influence.