ES struktūrinių fondų, kaip ES integracijos priemonės, poveikis Lietuvos kelių transporto sektoriui

Abstract

European Union countries have different level of social and economic development. In order to unify the countries development level and to reduce the social and economic differences between the EU Member States or individual regions is given by the EU structural support. According to the Ministry of Transport for the transport sector projects during the period of 2007-2013 from the EU structural funds was allocated 5 358 billion Lt (23.4%). More than half (61%) of the transport sector projects was about road transport sector. Updated and modernized infrastructure has a positive impact on road freight growth, more efficient transportation of passengers. During the evaluation of investment in transport infrastructure and modernization is important to remember that all updated or newly constructed roads will need to continue investment and regularly monitor to ensure that they provide social and economic benefits would not be a one-off. At present, Lithuania roads funding is allocated from the state budget, the roads are exempt from taxation (valid only for tax vignettes). Road Maintenance and Development Programme budget is about 1 billion Lt. In order to maintain the state road network functionality and minimal development should be at least 1.75 billion Lt per year. Therefore, the burden of maintaining them, without receiving EU structural funds have tax payers. Czech Republic, which is also a large part of the funds from the Structural Funds allocated upgrading the road could be a good example for Lithuania on road pricing system in which funds are directed to road maintenance and maintenance to ensure that after the EU investment results will be supported.