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In the framework of the Stability
Pact, the European Investment Bank has developed, in close co-operation with
other IFI’s and the European Commission, a comprehensive programme for
improvement of regional infrastructure. The focus is on the transport, energy,
water and telecommunications sectors. Out of the 400 initial submissions, 35
projects were chosen for the ‘Quick Start Package’ (QSP). Implementation
of these will start or a tender be awarded within 12 months.
Besides the investment in regional
infrastructure it will be important to undertake regulatory improvements to
take advantage of potential economies of scale, e.g. through improving airspace
navigation control, facilitation energy trade or promoting integrated telecom
systems.
The EIB, the EC, the WB and the
EBRD reported on the progress achieved in financing and implementing the Quick
Start Package of 34 infrastructure projects. The Joint Office of the WB and
the EC presented a consolidated report as of end-September 2000, which underlines
that the QSP on infrastructure is well underway. Six months after the Regional
Donor Conference, all except one of the quick start projects with a total cost
of 1221 million Euro have fully identified sources of funding. The remaining
gap of 29 M Euro (one project in Bosnia and Herzegovina) is very
likely to be closed soon. One study in Bosnia an Herzegovina has been canceled
because the World Bank, as the lead agency responsible, reported that sufficient
information was found to be available to go ahead with the related project without
a new study.
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The EIB has organised technical
meetings with the World Bank, the EBRD and the European Commission in order
to establish a package of infrastructure projects. With regard to the 35 projects
in the QSP, negotiations are now underway to finalise the technical details.
It is expected that almost all
of the projects will proceed as scheduled, some projects are even ahead of schedule.
Works on the ground, which have started for 6 projects, will be intensified
during the next construction season. For one third of the projects tendering
has already started or is completed. However, in order to minimise possible
delays in the implementation of the quick start projects, there is a need to
urgently improve in some cases the sectorial, regulatory and legislative framework
and to address specific issues such as expropriation procedures
for land acquisition, transparency in tendering procedures and appropriate measures
for environmental protection.
Information on tenders for QSP
(Infrastructure) is available on:
http://www.seerecon.org/ (WB/EC, go
to "Business and Investment Opportunities"), http://www.ted.eur-op.eu.int/ (for
EIB projects) and http://www.ebrd.com/ (EBRD, go to "Procurement")
