TITLE  XII ( * )

( * ) As inserted by Article G( 38 ) TEU.

Trans European networks

Article 129b

1. To help achieve the objectives referred to in Articles 7a and 130a and to enable  citizens of the Union, economic operators and regional and local communities to derive full benefit from the setting up of an area without internal frontiers, the Community shall contribute to the establishment and development of Trans European networks in the areas of transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures.

2. Within the framework of a system of open and competitive markets, action by the Community shall aim at promoting the interconnection and interoperability of national networks as well as access to such networks. It shall take account in  particular of the need to link island, landlocked and peripheral regions with the  central regions of the Community.

Article 129c

1. In order to achieve the objectives referred to in Article 129b, the Community:

shall establish a series of guidelines covering the objectives, priorities and broad lines of measures envisaged in the sphere of Trans European networks; these guidelines shall identify projects of common interest;
shall implement any measures that may prove necessary to ensure the interoperability of the networks, in particular in the field of technical standardization;
may support the financial efforts made by the Member States for projects of common interest financed by Member States, which are identified in the framework of the guidelines referred to in the first indent, particularly through feasibility studies, loan guarantees or interest rate subsidies; the Community may also contribute, through the Cohesion Fund to be set up no later than 31 December 1993 pursuant to Article 130d, to the financing of specific projects in Member States in the area of transport infrastructure.

The Community's activities shall take into account the potential economic viability of  the projects.

2. Member States shall, in liaison with the Commission, coordinate among themselves the policies pursued at national level which may have a significant impact on the achievement of the objectives referred to in Article 129b. The Commission may, in close cooperation with the Member State, take any useful  initiative to promote such coordination.

3. The Community may decide to cooperate with third countries to promote projects of mutual interest and to ensure the interoperability of networks.

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