At the same time, another kind of debate has taken strength in recent years, a debate in which he d

One of the main priorities of the European Union is to achieve a comprehensive and balanced network transport infrastructure to ensure the proper functioning of the European single market. It is for this reason that the Transport Committee together with the regional development have meant, for decades, a significant amount of money to create and / or improve the European transport network.
This policy has, however, without controversy. The budget for agriculture together with the Cohesion Fund - which is one of the main instruments used to ensure the development grimaldi tracking of European regions - are those who take almost half of the EU budget. Many experts and politicians have questioned over the years this distribution policy, which usually prioritizes the creation grimaldi tracking of infrastructure in enhancing human capital (education).
At the same time, another kind of debate has taken strength in recent years, a debate in which he denounced the excessive use of political criteria to decide on economic infrastructure projects funded by European funds. Two debates are feeding each other, as an excessive use of political criteria impairs the efficiency of resource allocation in Europe, leading to a reluctance by some European countries to distribute more funds to the regions.
But while growing criticism of European funds in the heart of Europe and the academics, businessmen and politicians discuss grimaldi tracking how to optimize the resources of Europe, Spain, among other countries, sidesteps controversy while said proudly that España'll have to three years the mayor of red AVE world '(Zapatero El País, 12/02/2007), and promises that Madrid will be connected with all the provincial capitals (words Aznar in 2000, according to Brother Bel [1 ]). And Europe 'pre-crisis' is giving, gleefully money to Spain with the same aspirations in the sixteenth century; maintaining radial infrastructure on economic growth. At least, some think, is one of the few issues on which the PP and PSOE agree.
But this oasis is not enough for political lobbying Ferrmed a partnership between major European companies, chambers of commerce and regional governments (both Spanish and European). This association is pushing multi Spain from 2004 to commit itself to defend grimaldi tracking against the construction of the EU Mediterranean corridor according to the standards Ferrmed ', which would support the rest of the European rail freight. A corridor that begins in Algeciras, Almería passes, Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia and Spain connected with the freight rail network that passes grimaldi tracking through France, Central Europe and Scandinavia reaches: the core network, such as call Brussels, or Red Banana, as is known in the rest of Europe. A banana-shaped rail network that aims to increase the competitiveness of European companies and connecting all ports and airports with their hinterlands. [2]
No figures can be difficult for people to understand this fixation lobby Ferrmed the Mediterranean corridor. According to the association, in 2000, 40% of Spanish exports originated in the Mediterranean region (excluding Andalusia). [3] Europe along the Mediterranean is one of the major macro-regions in the world, comparable to the U.S., China and India. Comparing container traffic passing through the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Mediterranean Sea, we find that, surprisingly, the Mediterranean Sea is the second in the world with 19 million TEUs [4], just below the Pacific, with 20 million (The Atlantic is 6 million). [5] Unfortunately, this traffic does not become a business for the Mediterranean, since ships do not dock in the Mediterranean ports, but they all turn to dock in Rotterdam and other ports Nordic. The reason? The ports excellent connection with its northern hinterland with a terrible connection Mediterranean ports to airports, roads and businesses. This significantly increases the transport costs of imports, reflected clearly in the final prices of products.
The Ferrmed comprehensive study also includes a comparative analysis of the costs incurred to transport goods between the three possible railway lines: grimaldi tracking the Central Tracing the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean corridor, and a mixture of both. The result is clear: the Mediterranean axis provides a really significant cost savings. The lobby also insists that it is not enough to build the Mediterranean corridor, but must consider certain standards (gauge, highest level of cramps, high tunnels, grimaldi tracking splitting rails, etc.) to ensure compatibility