these European billions that we must succeed in obtaining
20% of the bill, attributed to 14.3 billion euros, is expected from the European Union. And this envelope of 2.86 billion euros is at the heart of the controversy between pro and anti-LGV. Denis Teisseire thus announces the sum of 1.87 billion euros for rail investments in the 27 EU countries, over the period 2021-2027. Far from what Occitania and New Aquitaine expect, but also light years from the usual financing capacities of Brussels.
By delving into the very complex European mechanisms, we indeed find this 1.87 billion, included in the multiannual work program (PTP) but it does not concern the possible financing of the GPSO.
447 proposals
The overall figures for the CEF 2021-2027 (European Interconnection Mechanism) were published in March 2021 and amounted to 33.7 billion euros, including 25.8 for the transport, river or rail component. The European Commission also welcomed, in a press release, “the agreement reached by the European Parliament and Council for greener and more sustainable transport and energy networks. The envelope of 25.8 billion is divided into two: 10 for the countries said to be in cohesion (those of the East), 15.8 for the countries of the West, including France.
On September 17, the Commission launched a first call for proposals for a total amount of 7 billion euros. 447 proposals (among them, the GPSO) were sent to Cinea, the European executive agency for the environment, climate and infrastructure, responsible for evaluating the projects with external and independent experts. These 450 requests would require an envelope of 14.5 billion euros. So there won’t be enough for everyone. The winners will be known at the end of June.
For the moment, there is therefore no assurance that the GPSO will obtain its European funding, which François Poupard, the director general of services in the Region, acknowledges. “We know that the priority projects are the Lyon-Turin tunnel and the Seine-Nord canal. The third place is played between the GPSO and Montpellier-Perpignan. The GPSO ticks the cases of rail continuity, of European connection, with Spain, and of crossing mountains. Moreover, Spain has completed its program and there are no major projects in Italy or Germany. The winds are therefore favourable, knowing that there will be other calls for projects. »