Western Balkan TEN-T projects unlikely to meet 2030 deadline
Signal
The European Court of Auditors reports that TEN-T projects in the Western Balkans, funded with 527 million euros, are unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline.
Impact
negativeThe European Commission faces criticism for inadequate oversight, impacting EU funding strategies and delaying infrastructure improvements for regional rail connectivity. Stakeholders such as local governments and financial institutions may experience increased scrutiny and pressure to enhance project management.
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has raised serious concerns regarding the implementation of Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) projects in the Western Balkans, indicating that the ambitious 2030 deadline for completion is unlikely to be met. The ECA's investigation, which focused on 12 transport projects funded through the Western Balkans Investment Fund (WBIF) totaling 527 million euros since 2015, highlighted significant delays and shortcomings in project management.
Among the sampled projects, six are specifically aimed at enhancing rail infrastructure, which is crucial for connecting the Western Balkans to the European core TEN-T network. However, the ECA found that many of these projects were immature at the time of funding approval. This immaturity included incomplete preparatory work, such as cost-benefit analyses and detailed design plans, leading to an average delay of 17 months before implementation could begin.
The ECA's findings point to a lack of effective supervision and monitoring by the European Commission. The Commission has relied heavily on financial institutions for oversight, but the auditors criticized these institutions for failing to provide adequate evidence of their supervisory roles and for not identifying risks associated with public procurement procedures. This lack of oversight has contributed to the inability of the Commission to address the reasons behind the delays.
One particularly troubling case involves a railway project in North Macedonia, where the core rail corridor was not connected to neighboring countries at the time the grant was approved. This oversight raises concerns about the viability of the entire corridor and the effectiveness of the funding process.
The implications of these findings are significant for various stakeholders. The European Commission must reassess its funding strategies and oversight mechanisms to ensure that future projects are mature and ready for implementation. Local governments in the Western Balkans may face increased pressure to improve project management and coordination with neighboring countries to ensure connectivity. Financial institutions involved in project funding will likely encounter heightened scrutiny regarding their oversight responsibilities.
In conclusion, the ECA's investigation serves as a wake-up call for the European Commission and its partners in the Western Balkans. Without immediate action to address the identified shortcomings, the goal of achieving a connected TEN-T network by 2030 remains at serious risk.
