The EC Assistance of the General Transport Master plan in Serbia (GTMPS) was presented last week (March 4^th) in Belgrade at Hyatt Hotel.

Experts from different areas and relevant speakers introduced the attendants to the projects.

Among them were: Mr Simon Ferenc (EC Delegation), Mr Jose Bustamante (Head of Operations II EC Delagation), Mr Enrico Maglia (Programme Manager, EC Delegation), Mr.Paolo Orsini (Road Expert), Mr Roberto Liuzza (Rail Expert), Mr Robert Zanetti (IWW Expert), Mrs Olja Cokorilo (Civil Aviation Expert), Branislav Boskovic (Intermodal Expert), Mr Pieter Hilferink (Modeling Expert) and Mr. Antonello Pucci (Team Leader).

Welcome speeches were delivered also by Mr Aleksandar Cvetanovic, State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Infrastructure and Mr Parko Paunovic, Adviser to the Minister of Economy and Regional Development.

Master Plan development is financed by the EU, and has been realised by the consortium of three Italian and one Serbian company, headed by Italian Italfer. In Serbia, Italferr has been charged by the European Commission of the production of the GTMPS and the preliminary and final design of the new Zezelj Bridge in Novi Sad.

A coherent package of projects for investments has been established. Technical, political and other risks were explicitly stated. The greatest attention no should be given to projects with a proposed implementation timetable.

The overall objective of the General Transport Master Plan for Serbia (GTMPS) is to contribute to expanded, improved and safer transport networks, which will attract new investments to the poorer regions, improve the quality of regional life, promote trade and contribute to the improvement of relations with neighbouring countries.

The purpose of this project is to provide the beneficiary with a comprehensive GTMPS in line with transport policy and as a tool to design and implement transport schemes to meet the needs of all modes.

Its main output is an outline of the future development of the Serbian transport system and dedicated software able to assess the viability of development projects in the transport sector.

EUR 5.1 billion is needed for the modernisation and the construction of the railway system in Serbia in the following 15 to 20 years, of which EUR 2.5 billion for the Corridor 10.

Last year Commissioner Barrot signed in Belgrade a treaty with the main objective of establishing an integrated market ofr infrastructure and land, inland waterways and maritime transport and to align the relevant legislation in the Western Balkan region with Community legislation.

The establishment of the Transport Community will accelerate the integration of the transport systems within the region as well as with those of the EU.

It would also speed up the alignment of the relevant legislation and allow transport users and citizens to benefit from the accession process more rapidly.

As Mr Jose Bustamante,  pointed out on the occasion of the presentation of the EC Assistance to the General Master Plan of Transportation in Serbia,  this is good news for both, the Western Balkans and the EU.

For the Western Balkans the Transport Community would provide operators and investors in the transport sector with legal certainty, thereby stimulating and speeding up the necessary investments and economic development.

For the EU the Transport Community will contribute to promote stability and prosperity through out Europe. It will continue to extend the Tran European transport network, progressing to weave its web, deepening, on the mid and far term, the European internal market.