Cooperation with Europe:
border regions as pioneers
Cross-border regions as pioneers?
Projects and Reports
Propositions
Switzerland's and the European transport policy are linked in diverse ways. It is both desirable and feasible for Switzerland to be more closely aligned with Europe, and to have a stronger influence on European policy.
Bilateral agreements play a dominant role in the interaction between Switzerland and the EU. The effect of the planned deregulation and tolling regulations in goods transport are particularly relevant to policy in Switzerland. Whether they cover weight limits, night driving bans or mutual access to markets - the regulations agreed, or still to be agreed, with the EU have a substantial influence on Swiss transport policy.
When considering technical standards, and the inclusion of Switzerland in international transport networks, the trend is towards an increasing European influence on Swiss policy. From the environmental perspective, the integration of Switzerland means an increase in traffic and thus greater environmental pollution. Despite this, a stronger orientation of Swiss transport policy towards Europe is necessary for us to secure our own interests.S7
The most important proposals for sustainable transport policy, as formulated in individual projects of the NRP 41, can be harmonised with the legal and political system of the EU. If Switzerland joined the EU, the greatest modifications would be in the toll policy for goods transport by road.
But such adaptation is mutual: the example of alpine protection policy and the Distance-related Heavy Vehicle Fee (HVF) show that Switzerland can also influence European policy, and that there is considerable potential here. Despite the relatively slow progress so far, there are promising approaches within the EU towards a policy of true costs and sustainability. Switzerland's opportunities to influence matters are of particular significance to the development of a coordinated alpine transport policy for Europe. If Switzerland joined the EU, our legal room for manoeuvre would be narrowed; but on the other hand an isolated Swiss transport policy is hardly feasible.D1
Cross-border regions are already heavily affected by developments in Europe. They represent a special case for transport planning. In five case studies, the NRP 41 examined such regions. The study demonstrated that there was significant potential for customer growth and cost reduction, which might be developed through innovative cross-border transport facilities - if timetables and tariffs could be consolidated on both sides of the border. Deregulation and regionalisation in rail transport open up new opportunities, if the regions are willing to respond to these issues actively. Organisations for cross-border cooperation should therefore be strengthened and provided with more democratic foundations. Intergovernmental agreements are the appropriate means of providing political security. Common cross-border concepts for regional transport planning are an effective instrument. In the transit regions, the planning of local and long-distance transport across the border needs to be optimised.D7
| S7 | Schweiz und EU: Standortbestimmung und Perspektiven in der
Verkehrspolitik; Teilsynthese Wechselwirkungen Schweiz- Europa; 2e partie:
Aspects européens et création de valeur (Switzerland and the
EU; Synthesis Report) |
| D1 |
Verkehrspolitik EU/Schweiz (Transport policies in the EU
and Switzerland) |
| D7 |
Politique des transports et régions frontalières
(Traffic management in frontier regions) |
| M11 |
Grenzüberschreitender Verkehr in der Region Oberrhein
(Transport in border areas: case study for Oberrhein region) |
| M12 |
Grenzüberschreitender Verkehr in der Region Konstanz-Kreuzlingen
(Transport in border areas: case study for the region of Konstanz-Kreuzlingen) |
| M13 |
Les transports transfrontaliers dans la région insubrienne
(Transport in border areas: case study for the Swiss-Italian border region
"insubrica") |
| M14 |
Les transports transfrontaliers dans la région de
Genève (Transport in border areas: case study for the Geneva area) |
| M15 |
Les transports transfrontaliers dans la région du
Chablais (Transport in border areas: case study for region of Chablais)
|
European standards, regulations, policy decisions and economic developments will increasingly influence Switzerland, so that it must align itself more clearly with them and follow these developments. She must also use her room for manoeuvre more consciously - autonomy is an illusion, in transport policy even more than elsewhere.
Increase the presence of Swiss interests in Europe
Switzerland and all her actors (government, administration, political parties, professional organisations etc.) should use all possible means to channel their knowledge and interests into the European decision-making processes.
Pay more attention to the needs of border regions
Since many cross-border regions experience rapid economic growth and consequently suffer from specific transport problems, the interested parties in these regions must cooperate more closely. For this they require increased federal support.