Johannes Hahn:

Agenda povezanosti za Zapadni Balkan

Govor komesara EU Johannesa Hahna na sastanku sa šest zapadnobalkanskih ministara spoljnih poslova i transporta (Priština, Kosovo).

28.04.2015.

Johannes Hahn:

Connectivity agenda for the Western Balkans

Speech by EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn at the meeting with Western Balkans 6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Transport (Pristina, Kosovo).

28.04.2015.

Razvijen i povezan ključ infrastrukture za ekonomski rast

Na današnji dan prije 198 godina u Velikoj Britaniji je pokrenuta prva komercijalna putnička željeznička služba. Željeznica, kako što možda očekujete, nije bila u Londonu nego u Južnom Velsu, povezujući luku Swansea sa nedovoljno razvijenim zaleđem, omogućujući pristup radnim mjestima, tržištima i novim mogućnostima.

Ista jednostavna lekcija od prije dva vijeka može se primijeniti i danas, možda više nego ikad: razvijena i povezana infrastruktura za transport i energiju je pokretački ključ za ekonomski rast i radna mjesta, kao i za privlačenje novih investicija.

Ipak, ima i opominjućih lekcija koje treba naučiti. Prvo, voz su vukli konji, što možda nije najbolji izbor za 21. vijek. Drugo, prestala je s radom nakon nekoliko godina zbog konkurencije nove putne mreže.

Iz ovoga možemo vidjeti da nijedan projekat transporta, nijedna politika transporta ne može djelovati izolovano.

Zato transportna politika Evropske unije ima za cilj da zatvori jaz između transportne mreže država članica i ukloni usko grlo koje još uvijek ometa nesmetano funkcionisanje unutrašnjeg tržišta.

Važan je sporazum o temeljnoj mreži

Glavni blok gradnje uključuje temeljnu mrežu koja povezuje sve glavne gradove, glavne ekonomske centre i velike luke. Ove prioritetne veze postaju dio temeljne mreže samo ako države članice mogu da se obavežu da će ispuniti sve povezane investicije i druge ‘blage’ mjere do 2030.

Dakle, temeljna mreža obuhvata fokusiranje na najvažnije međupoveznice i osiguranje da zemlje imaju potrebna fiskalna i budžetska sredstva da bi se ispunile na vrijeme. Ova uzajamna opredijeljenost čini proces kredibilnim.

Stoga cilj nije imati najveću moguću regionalnu temeljnu mrežu nego fokusirati se na najvažnije segmente koji se mogu implementuirati u razumnom vremenskom okviru. Mi ne želimo ‘veliki dizajn’, mi želimo ‘dobar dizajn’.

Uzajamna opredijeljenost je bitan temelj. To osigurava dodatnu vrijednost procesa i obezbjeđuje potrebnu garanciju za svaku zemlju da će investiranje biti vrijedno truda. I, svaka zemlja zna da njeni susjedi dijele istu opredijeljenost za istu temeljnu mrežu.

Ovo je okvir u koji želimo uvezati Zapadni Balkan, ne samo fizički, kroz puteve i željeznicu, nego i politički i pravno.

Ako regionalnu temeljnu mrežu dodamo Sporazumu o zajedničkom transportu to će postati pravno obavezujuće za Zapadni Balkan kao i za EU, i tako dalje jačati kredibilitet procesa.

Well-developed and interconnected infrastructure key for economic growth

On this day 198 years ago the world’s first fare paying passenger railway service started in Great Britain. The railway was not as you might expect in London, it was in South Wales, connecting the port of Swansea with it’s under developed hinterland, bringing access to jobs, markets and new opportunities.

The same simple lesson of two centuries ago applies today, perhaps more than ever: well-developed and interconnected infrastructure for transport and energy is a key driver for economic growth and jobs as well as for attracting new investments.

However, there are some other cautionary lessons to learn. First the railway was horse drawn, perhaps not the best choice for the 21st Century. Second, it stopped operating after a few years due to competition from a new toll road.

From this we can see that no transport project, no transport policy can act in isolation.

This is why the transport policy of the European Union aims to close the gaps between Member States’ transport networks and remove bottlenecks that still hamper the smooth functioning of the internal market.

Agreement on core network is vital

The main building block comprises the core network linking all capitals, main economic centres and major ports. These priority links only become part of the core network if Member States are able to commit to completing all related investments and other ‘soft’ measures by 2030.

The core network therefore involves focusing on the most important inter-connectors and ensuring that the countries have the necessary fiscal and budgetary means to complete them on time. This mutual commitment makes the process credible.

The aim is, therefore, not to have the largest possible regional core network but to focus on the most important segments which could be implemented within a reasonable time frame. We do not want “grand designs” we want “good designs”.

Mutual commitment is the essential foundation. It ensures the added value of the process and provides the necessary guarantee for each country that its investments will be worthwhile. And, each country knows that its neighbours share the same commitment to the same core network.

This is the framework into which we want to connect the Western Balkans, not just a physical connection, through road and rail but a political and legal connection as well.

If we add the regional core network to the Transport Community Treaty it will become legally binding for the Western Balkans as well as for the EU thereby further strengthening the credibility of the process.

Jedinstven sektor gasovoda

Govorio sam o potrebi razvoja realnih planova ali moramo biti realni kad gledamo kako će ti planovi biti finansirani.

Javni fondovi su rijetki a mi moramo da dobijemo maksimalnu vrijednost za svaki potrošeni eur. Da bi se dobile najvažnije investicije i postigla stvarna dobrobit, prije nego kasnije, jasna je potreba da se pažljivo odaberu prioriteti i istraže svi mogući izvori sredstava finansiranja, uključujući privatni kapital.

U ovom pogledu ključno će biti funkcionisanje Nacionalnih komisija za ulaganje. One povezuju ministarstvo finansija, relevatnu liniju ministarstava, Komisiju, IFI (međunarodne finansijske institucije) i glavne aktere u privatnom sektoru. Oni će biti odgovorni za uspostavu jedinstvenog gasnog sektora sa najrelevantnijim investicionim projektima koji će u zemlji biti srednjoročno finansirani.

Mnogo je lekcija koje se mogu naučiti iz postojećih Nacionalnih komisija za ulaganje. Kasnije ćemo čuti o srbijanskom iskustvu sa sektorom gasovoda.

Podstičem vas da nađate inspiracije iz ove dobre prakse i drugih pozitivnih iskustava iz Evrope i regiona.

Sporazumom o ovom pristupu i metodologiji poslaće se jasan signal – za vaše poslovanje, vašim građanima i potencijalnim investitorima – da ste odlučni da pokrenete ekonomiju na Zapadnom Balkanu blisko sarađajući u zajedničkom interesu.

Kredibilne strategije u sektoru i jedinstven sektor gasovoda važni su za nas koliko i za druge investitore. Oni će biti preduvjet da se dobije pristup višenacionalnim i nacionalnim IPA fondovima za investicijsko sufinansiranje.

Dodatna vrijednost investiranjima u infrastrukturu

Dopustite da naglasim i važnost dodatne vrijednosti za ova ulaganja. Lako je razmišljati o povezanosti u terminima ‘hardwarea’, mostova, raskrsnica i slično. Ali ja bih naglasio da, kao i za kompjuter, hardware treba software da bi efikasno djelovao. I što je bolji software to je lakše za hardware da maksimizira svoj potencijal.

Na primjer: implementiranje standarda EU u cestovnu sigurnost pojačaće dodatnu vrijednost investiranja u infrastrukturu i povezanost.

Dobici će biti još veći ako se ovo kombinuje sa efikasnijim prelascima granica. Očito nema mnogo smisla uveliko ulagati u puteve ili željeznice ako kamioni ili vozovi zaglave na granicama.

Dobra vijest je da se značajno poboljšanje može dosta brzo postići smanjenjem vremena prevoza po relativno niskoj cijeni. U ovom pogledu, očekujem prezentaciju o zajedničkom radu vlasti na prelazima u Haniju i Elezitu. Govorio sam o uspostavi temeljne transportne mreže. Ovo odražava važnost i nivo zadatka koji je pred nama. Ali agenda o povezanosti nije ograničena na transport. U sektoru energije, smjernice za trans-evropsku energetsku infrastrukturu uspostavljaju zajednička pravila za blagovremen razvoj i međuoperativnost prioritetnih koridora.

Single sector pipelines

I have spoken of the need to develop realistic plans but we must also be realistic when we look at how these plans will be financed.

Public funds are scarce and we need to get the maximum value for every Euro we spend. To deliver on the most important investments and bring real benefits sooner rather than later, there is a clear need to carefully select priorities and to explore all possible sources of funding including private capital.

The functioning of the National Investment Committees will be crucial in this regard. They bring together the Ministry of Finance, the relevant line ministries, the Commission, IFIs and the main actors of the private sector. They will be responsible for establishing single sector pipelines with the most relevant investment projects to be financed in the country over the medium term.

There are a lot of lessons which can be learned from existing National Investment Committees. We will hear later this morning about the Serbian experience with the sector pipelines.

I urge you to take as much inspiration as possible from this good practice and from other positive experiences from around Europe and the region.

Agreeing on this approach and methodology would send a clear signal – to your business, to your citizens and to potential investors – that you are determined to boost the economy in the Western Balkans by working closely together in the common interest.

Credible sector strategies and single sector pipelines are as important for us as they are for other investors. Theywill be pre-conditions for getting access to multi-country and national IPA funding for investment co-financing.

Adding value to infrastructure investments

Let me also emphasise the importance of adding value to these investments. It is easy to think about connectivity in terms of the “hardware”, bridges, intersections and the like. But I would emphasise that, like a computer, the hardware needs software to operate effectively. And the better the software the easier it is for the hardware to maximise its potential.

Let me give an example: implementing EU standards of road safety will reinforce the added value of investments in infrastructure and connectivity.

There will be even greater gains if this is combined with more efficient border crossings. Obviously it makes little sense to invest heavily in state of the art roads or railways if trucks or trains get stuck at the borders.

The good news is that significant improvements can be made fairly rapidly in reducing transportation time at relatively low costs. In this regard, I look forward to the presentation later this morning about the joint work carried out by the authorities at the Hani e Elezit crossing point.

I have spoken about establishing a core transport network. This reflects the importance and the scale of the task ahead of us. But the connectivity agenda is not limited to transport. In the Energy sector, the Guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure establish common rules for the timely development and interoperability of priority corridors.

Projekti od interesa za energetsku zajednicu

Potreban nam je strateški uvid i jasan prioritet za projekte od interesa za energetsku zajednicu (PECI).

Sa Sekretarijatom energetske zajednice radimo na uspostavi kratke liste najvitalnijih projekata.

A što se tiče energije, baš kao i sa transportom, djelovanje pod pravilima kompatibilnim EU kao što su razdvajanje djelatnosti ili dopuštanje pristupa trećoj strani biće bitan element za agendu povezanosti.

Sljedeći koraci i samit u Beču u avgustu

Na početku moje prezentacije izrazio sam nadu da ćemo danas biti u mogućnosti da postignemo sporazum o temeljnoj mreži. Takav sporazum će popločati put za sljedeće korake.

Komesar Bulc i ja očekujemo da 21. aprila ugostimo vaše premijere u Briselu. To će biti prilika da sporazum koji očekujemo da postignemo danas dobije političku potvrdu na najvišem nivou.

Takva politička opredijeljenost biće snažan signal za naš uzajamni angažman u agendi povezanosti.

Uz potvrđenu političku opredijeljenost možemo onda zajedno raditi na tome da opredijeljenost pretočimo u akciju.

U junu ćemo koristiti TEN T dane u Rigi da organizujemo poseban Ministarski skup zapadnobalkanske šestorke da bismo se dogovorili o imenovanju koordinatora koridora.

Koordinatori će pomoći u organizovanju diskusija na kojima će svi relevantni sudionici raditi na identifikovanju kratkoročnih regulatornih i operativnih poboljšanja kao i prioritetnim ulaganjima u prekograničnim vezama i uskim grlima za svaki produženi koridor.

Najzad, u avgustu ćemo iskoristiti samit u Beču da predstavimo listu specifičnih prioriteta ulaganja u energiju i regionalnu temeljnu transportnu mrežu. Lista će obuhvatiti i projekte već uključene u Investicioni okvir Zapadnog Balkana i dati jasan doprinos agendi povezanosti.

Naravno, za te projekte potrebne su finansije. Kako će prvi korak do 130 miliona eura u IPA II fondovima biti dostupan iz višenacionalnog programa 2015 kao grant investicija sufinansiranja da bi se ti projekti pokrenuli zajedno sa pozajmicom od evropskih finansijskih institucija.

Snažno opredjeljenje za poboljšanje povezanosti u regionu

Kažem prvi korak jer sam snažno opredijeljen za poboljšanje povezanosti u okviru ovog regiona i između regiona i Evropske unije. Spremni smo da za ovaj cilj uložimo jednu millijardu eura iz IPA II.

Ovo je znatan napor i uz odgovarajući nivo pozajmica moglo bi doći do značajnog poboljšanja povezanosti u regionu, jačajući sveukupnu konkurentnost, vodeći do razvoja, otvaranja radnih mjesta i stvarnog poboljšanja u životima svih koji žive ovdje.

Ovo je moje opredjeljenje ali moramo raditi zajedno i znam da ste i vi za to opredijeljeni.

Vaše opredjeljenje znači fokusiranje na temeljne prioritete ulaganja (temeljna mreža) i uspostavu kredibilnog planiranja i mehanizma fondova u formi jedinstvenog sektora gasovoda.

Ovo takođe znači osiguranje da imate fiskalni prostor da biste uzeli potrebne pozajmice kako bi se svi projekti implementirali na vrijeme.

A ja ću raditi s vama na implementiranju reformi kompatibilnih EU da bi se osiguralo najbolje regulatorno okruženje za implementaciju i izvršenje tih projekata.

Iz ovoga je jasno da je agenda povezanosti blisko vezana za ekonomsku vladavinu i Program ekonomskih reformi koje su nam vaše vlade podnijele početkom ove godine.

Računam da ćete snažno podržati sve strukturalne mjere uključene u te programe reformi. Dobićete našu maksimalnu podršku kako biste to postigli.

Projects of Energy Community Interest

Here too we need a strategic overview and a clear priority given to the Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI).

We are working with Energy Community Secretariat to establish a short list of the most vital projects.

And for energy, just as with transport, operating under EU-compatible rules such as unbundling utilities or allowing third-party access will be an essential element of the connectivity agenda.

Next steps and the Vienna summit in August

At the start of my presentation I expressed the hope that here today we would be able to reach an agreement on the core network. Such an agreement would pave the way for the next steps.

Commissioner Bulc and I are looking forward to host your Prime Ministers on 21 April in Brussels. This will be the occasion to give the agreement we intend reaching today political confirmation at the very highest level.

Such a political commitment will be a strong signal of our mutual engagement in the connectivity agenda.

With the political commitment confirmed we can then work together to turn this commitment into action.

In June, we would use the TEN T days in Riga to organise a specific WB6 Ministerial to agree on the appointment of corridor coordinators.

The coordinators would help organise discussions where all relevant stakeholders work towards identifying short term regulatory and operational improvements as well as priority investments in cross border connections and bottlenecks for each extended corridor.

Finally, in August we would use the Vienna Summit to present a list of specific investment priorities on energy and on the regional transport core network. The list would comprise mature projects already included in the framework of the Western Balkans Investment Framework and which would make a clear contribution to the connectivity agenda.

Of course these projects will need financing. As a first step up to 130 million euro in IPA II funds will be available from the 2015 multi-country programme as grant investment co-financing to move these projects forward together with loan-financing from European Financial Institutions.


Strong commitment to improving connectivity in the region

I say a first step because I am strongly committed to improving the connectivity within this region and between the region and the European Union. We are ready to commit as much as 1 billion euro from IPA II to this end.

This is a substantial effort and with the appropriate loan-financing leverage it could bring about significant connectivity improvements to the region, boosting overall competitiveness, leading to growth, job creation and a real improvement in the lives of all who live here.

This is my commitment but we must work together and I know that you are committed too.

Your commitment means focusing on the core investment priorities (core network) and establishing a credible planning and funding mechanism in the form of single sector pipelines.

It also means ensuring that you have the fiscal space to take up the necessary loan financing to get all the projects implemented on time.

And I will work with you on implementing EU-compatible reforms in order to ensure the best regulatory environment to implement and operate these projects.

From this it is clear that the connectivity agenda is closely linked to economic governance and notably the Economic Reform Programmes your Governments submitted to us earlier this year.

I count on you to pursue with vigour all the structural measures included in these reform programmes. You will get the maximum support possible from us in order to achieve this.

Komesar EU-a Johannes Hahn

EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn

Tekst je prvobitno objavljen na web stranici Evropske Komisije (25.03.2015).

This article was originally published on the European Commission website (25.03.2015).

Odgovornost za informacije i gledišta iznesena u ovom članku, isključivo leži na autorima i nužno ne odražavaju mišljenje urednika Dialogue - BiH2.0 – Dijalog, njegovog savjetodavnog odbora, Tufts univerziteta, partnera, pobornika i donatora.

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