Organisation of a network of trunk road communications as a part of European regional planning
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 26 January 1970 (20th Sitting) (see Doc. 2709, report of the Committee on Regional Planning and Local Authorities). Text adopted by the Assembly on 26 January 1970 (20th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Having examined the present situation if the European network of trunk communications on the basis of the report presented by its Committee on Regional Planning and Local Authorities ;
2. Noting that the existing European system of trunk communications and that of motorways in particular consists of little more than the juxtaposition of the national networks, and that there is nothing that can properly be described as a European network designed to meet the general requirements of the continent as a whole, as well as of its various regions ;
3. Noting moreover that certain areas in the West and South-West of Europe are almost entirely outside the system, and that the western sectors, north-west and south-west of the two great diagonal lines of communication in Western Europe (British Isles -Italy and Scandinavia -Spain) are practically non-existent whereas the eastern sectors can already be considered relatively satisfactory ;
4. Considering that the lack of a direct motorway communication with South-Western Europe is all the more regrettable in that it prevents Europe from taking advantage of her natural geographical links with Africa,
5. Recalls its
Recommendation 525 asking that the European Conference of Ministers responsible for regional planning consider ways of achieving the "co-ordination of the main communication networks and of the transport and equipment infrastructure, to form a coherent European whole" ;
6. Is of the opinion that one of the most urgent tasks in this field is, without any doubt, to link the centre of Europe with the peripheral regions, including, in particular, South-West Europe across the Massif Central, Southern Europe across the Alps, the British Isles across the Channel, and the Scandinavian peninsula across Denmark ;
7. Instructs its Committee on Regional Planning and Local Authorities to submit a final report together with appropriate recommendations and proposals :
7.1 defining the basis for a European communications network which :
would be capable of dealing with present-day transport techniques and with Europe's total future needs ;
would, in particular, create a better balance between the various regions of Europe ;
would open up for every region all means of communication, trade and commerce with every other region in Europe and indeed with the rest of the world ;
would avoid excessive centralisation or the creation of bottlenecks particularly round terminals ;
7.2 setting out the prospective development of passenger and goods traffic between the European regions, bearing in mind the action to be taken over the next decade for the benefit of peripheral regions ;
7.3 suggesting ways in which an international system for co-ordinating investment in transport infrastructure could be created which would be flexible and adaptable to the ever changing and increasing needs for communications.
