About: infrastructure Archives

Financial inaction on transport infrastructure is a major failing of EU transport policy and could put economic growth in the Union at risk, states a report backed on 8 May by the Parliament's Transport Committee.

The Commission calls for better public and private sector co-operation to protect critical infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants and vital transport and information networks, from terrorist attacks.

The atrocities of 11 September 2001 in New York, the Madrid train bombing in 2004 and the London Underground attacks in July 2005 have indicated terrorists' willingness to target infrastructures such as transport, energy and communication. On 12 December 2006, the European Commission adopted a Communication to improve the protection of European Critical Infrastructure (ECI) from terrorism.

An EU forum has identified 35 projects for building large-scale European research infrastructures. These facilities are expected to become international 'talent and foreign brains' pools.

Any country is free to join the European research infrastructure projects and any scientist can access them, once they are operational. The perfect incentive for "foreign brains" to come to Europe, says John Wood in an interview with EURACTIV.com.

Building a trans-European transport network which connects all EU Member States is essential for promoting economic growth, social cohesion, competitiveness and environmental sustainability. However, major projects are being delayed due to a lack of funds and government coordination. 

A survey of European research infrastructures is set to consider the uniqueness of these structures in various disciplines, their openness of access and their financial importance.

Sticking to the subsidiarity principle, the Commission maintains that the main responsibility for protecting critical infrastructure lies with the owners and operators in member states.   

The challenges for European collective security and the potential
role of research and technology in protecting against terrorist
attacks was discussed by EU policy makers and
industrialists at a New Defence Agenda conference on 3
February 2005.