Entrepreneurs operating in the freight transport or logistics sector are being given yet another opportunity to seek to obtain EU funding. A fresh call for projects which could benefit from EU funding under the second Marco Polo programme was recently launched by the European Commission. Enterprises are being invited to apply for funding under this European programme in order to embark upon projects which would diminish congestion on our roads and make freight transport more environmental friendly.
The main objective of the Marco Polo programme is to provide an incentive to companies to introduce services which shift freight off the road and onto greener means of transport such as sea, rail and inland waterways. This would translate into fewer trucks on the road and consequently less congestion and pollution as well as possibly more reliable and efficient transport of goods. Only projects concerning freight transport services are supported by the Marco Polo programme.
Infrastructure projects, research or study projects are not eligible for support. Mixed passenger-freight services and ro-ro ferries services may also be proposed though financial support would then only be given to the freight part.
Both single undertakings as well as consortia whether established in an EU Member State or in EFTA/EEA countries or Croatia can participate in the programme. However, only costs arising on the territory of EU member states or countries which have concluded specific agreements with the EU are eligible for Marco Polo funding. This means that in calculating the subsidy for each project, only the parts of the route in countries eligible for funding can be used.
The projects which are successful in the competitive evaluation process will be offered grant contracts of up to five years. However, only projects which are viable and which can survive on the market even after they cease receiving EU financial support will be considered. The current call is open to proposals which fall under five types of actions.
Modal shift actions must show a capability of shifting freight from the road to short sea shipping, rail, inland waterways or a combination of modes of transport. Highly innovative catalyst actions aimed at overcoming structural market barriers in European freight transport can also be proposed. Motorways of the sea actions which shift freight from road to short sea shipping or a combination of the latter and other environment friendly modes of transport and which offer a very large-volume, high-frequency intermodal maritime transport service are also eligible.
The other two actions which are eligible to participate relate to traffic avoidance actions which integrate transport into production logistics, reducing freight transport demand by road with a direct impact on emissions and common learning actions which encourage the improvement of cooperation and sharing of know-how between stakeholders in the freight logistics sector. The budget for the current call is €64 million and the funding intensity is that of €2 per 500 tonne-kilometres of freight shifted off the roads. Interested parties now have until May 18 to submit their proposals and seek to partake of the funds being offered under this programme.
Dr Vella Cardona is a practising lawyer and a freelance consultant in EU, intellectual property, consumer protection and competition law. She is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta.
mariosa@vellacardona.com