EU's NE Cargo Link

Background and vision. Economic life in the Mid-Nordic Regionis depended upon well-functioning transport. The export industry needs cost-effective transport to important international markets in the EU and to the growing markets around the southern and eastern Baltic. Effective goods transport networks must be better co-ordinated at transnational level with supplementary regional links and nodes. The NE Cargo Link (NECL) project has been running since 1996 with the aim of developing and marketing a Mid-Nordic Region east-west goods transport link to the international markets. This will alleviate intense pressure on goods transport routes in northern and central Europe. Business interests started the project, but the cooperation between regional and local authorities has gradually increased.

Project work to date and agreement on future work
An extensive network has been created among industries, transporters and authorities covering the whole of the Mid-Nordic Region with contacts in western Russia and the UK. Extensive lobbying and discussions concerning the project have also taken place with relevant ministers and transport departments in the countries concerned. The project includes a pre-study of a potential Internet portal that simply and effectively provides access to booking and ordering departments for transport services in the corridor - "Business to Business". In the autumn of 2002, a partnership was formed with the aim of applying for funding from the EU INTERREG IIIB programme. In June 2003 the project was allocated approximately SEK 14 million from the EU's Regional Development Fund. In addition to this, the 35 project partners have raised another SEK 8 million. The Västernorrland County Administrative Board is the Lead Partner in the project.

Four areas of operation
1. Devise an overall strategy for creating an inter modal transport network in the Mid Nordic Region
2. Survey and identifying weaknesses in the current goods transport system
3. Implementing strategies for investing in a Mid-Nordic transport corridor
4. Develop business connections between parties in participating countries as well as Russia and the UK.