Reprogramming of resources for the major Metrotranvia project, linking Cosenza, Rende and the University of Calabria

Subject: Reprogramming of resources for the major Metrotranvia project, linking Cosenza, Rende and the University of Calabria

The major project for an overground light railway link between Cosenza, Rende and the University of Calabria, as mentioned in the answer to question E-002756-19, is a source of great concern for the Commission.

The failure to approve the final project plan, the unresolved issues regarding the route, and the protracted timeframe for the building of the infrastructure mean that it will be extremely difficult to build the entire light railway by the closure of the 2014-20 programming period.

That said, in view of the emergency situation caused by the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, given the Commission’s recent legislative proposal aimed at releasing and spending swiftly any remaining uncommitted EU funds and in view of the repeated calls to the Managing Authority (MA) to prepare alternative plans to the major Metrotranvia project, can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What is the total sum of the resources, under the 2014-2020 regional operational programme (ROP) for Calabria, which have not yet been committed to the above-mentioned major project?

2. Will the Commission call on the Managing Authority for the Calabria ROP to redirect those resources to projects in support of the Covid-19 emergency, in accordance with the provisions of Article 30 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 or with the recent simplified procedure proposed by the Commission?

3. Will it promote the use of the (uncommitted) resources of all the 2014-2020 ROP for any action which could help to tackle the emergency, while maintaining the local spending constraints inherent in the regional operational programmes?

Answer given by Ms Ferreira on behalf of the European Commission

(16 May 2020)

The total sum foreseen in the regional operational programme of Calabria 2014-2020 to support the realisation of the Metrotranvia project is EUR 160 million.

At the end of February 2020, the managing authority informed the Commission in writing that estimated costs have risen by additional EUR 60 million. This increase puts into question the economic viability of the project as analysed in 2012. Furthermore, the managing authority informed that implementation of the project is suffering from severe delays. The managing authority declared its intention to withdraw the project. So far, no official withdrawal has been declared to the Commission.

The Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative proposals (CRII and CRII+), presented by the Commission in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, enable Member States to mobilise funds from Cohesion to address three key priorities in the fight against the current emergency and its economic consequences: spending on healthcare, support to short time work schemes and support to the small and medium-sized enterprises’ working capital.