Networks for Peace and Development. Extension of the major trans-European transport axes to the neighbouring countries and regions. Report from the High Level Group chaired by Loyola de Palacio, November 2005

The High-Level Group identified five major transnational axes:

Motorways of the Seas: linking the Baltic, Barents, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black and
the Caspian Sea areas as well as the littoral countries within the sea areas and with an
extension through the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea.

Northern axis: to connect the northern EU with Norway to the North and with Belarus
and Russia and beyond to the East. A connection to the Barents region linking Norway
through Sweden and Finland with Russia is also foreseen.

Central axis: to link the centre of the EU to Ukraine and the Black Sea and through an
inland waterway connection to the Caspian Sea. Connections towards Central Asia and
the Caucasus are also foreseen, as well as a direct connection to the Trans-Siberian
railway and a link from the Don/Volga inland waterway to the Baltic Sea.

South Eastern axis: to link the EU through the Balkans and Turkey to the Caucasus and
the Caspian Sea as well as to Egypt and the Red Sea. Access links to the Balkan
countries as well as connections towards Russia, Iran and Iraq and the Persian Gulf are
also foreseen.

South Western axis: to connect the south-western EU with Switzerland and Morocco
and beyond, including the trans-Maghrebin link connecting Morocco, Algeria and
Tunisia. An extension of the trans-Maghrebin link to Egypt as well as a connection
from Egypt to the South towards other African countries are also foreseen.

European Commission: DG Energy and Transport: Transport: The Trans-European Transport Networks 'TEN-T' http://ec.europa.eu/comm/ten/transport/index_en.htm

European Commission: DG Energy and Transport: The Trans-European Transport Networks: Public consultation on the report of the High Level Group on the extension of the main trans-European transport axes to the neighbouring countries and regions and the way forward http://ec.europa.eu/comm/ten/transport/external_dimension/hlg/2006_02_17_tent_consultation/index_en.htm

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