Transport, Communications and Infrastructure in a United and Effective Europe

Transport, communications and infrastructure are at the heart of the Single Market. However, a more united and effective Europe requires a new and upgraded relevant infrastructure, greater liberalisation, and service provision regulated by more homogenous rules. This reform process has financial, social and political costs. In spite of these, all Member States have an incentive to advance the Single Market project. Incentives for Member States to leave the core group, once the project has started or has been completed - thus causing huge damages - should be counterbalanced by heavy penalties. The current crisis reduces the risk that public investment crowds-out private investment. However, public resources are needed in this policy area. As such, a golden rule for the Stability and Growth Pact to exclude investment spending in EU infrastructure as far as the Excessive Deficits Procedure is concerned would be welcome. Finally, avoiding sub-28 governance models could improve the EU's influence over the international rules of the game. Europe's "single market" has to evolve into "a single Europe in the global market" where unity is physically intertwined with effectiveness.

Paper produced within the framework of the project "Towards a More United and Effective Europe". Presented at the IAI conference on "Infrastructure, transport and communications in post-crisis Europe", Rome, 20 January 2014.