Main / EU Support / MARCO POLO Programme


             Marco Polo programme aims to improve environmental efficiency of transport system and develop inter-modal transportation in such a way making a contribution to an effective and sustainable transport system Therefore the main purpose of the Marco Polo programme is to shift freight flows from road transport to other modes of transport such as railway, short sea shipping, inland waterways or to combinations of transport modes where road journeys are as short as possible. The aim of the is.

             The first Marco Polo programme ran from 2003 to 2006. The second phase covers the period from 2007 to 2013. The legal basis for the first phase of the programme was Regulation 1382/2003 adopted on 22 July 2003. It was replaced on 24 October 2006 by Regulation 1692/2006, which launched Marco Polo II with a significantly modified set of rules. These were updated by Regulation 923/2009 of 16 September 2009 which amended the 2006 legislation by simplifying procedures and raising benefits.

          The Marco Polo budget in 2007-2013 is €450 million.

          This Programme offers funding for five types of actions: 

     

   1.    Modal shift action

               Modal shift actions take freight off the roads and transfer it to other modes of transport. Road freight transport will never disappear altogether, but these actions keep road journeys as short as possible. Modal shift action the purpose of which is to shift the largest possible amount of freight from road to short sea shipping, railway and inland waterways or to the combinations of these transport modes.

              Upon the submission of the proposal under this action, it should be noted that:

              -   actions must lead to a shift of an average of 60 million tkm per year per contract. The threshold is only 13 million tkm if the freight is shifted to inland waterways only;

              -   maximum EU support - 35% of all eligible costs, but the subsidy can never be more than €2 for each 500 tkm and the deficit of the project;

              -   supporting infrastructure may be granted not more than 20% of the support;

              -   the project must be implemented within the period of  3 years.

 

   2.      Catalyst action

 

            Catalyst actions are innovative. They overcome structural barriers to developing totally new approaches to non-road freight transport. They represent a genuine breakthrough offering great growth potential for freight transport. In addition to being innovative, they must also shift freight from the road.

           Upon the submission of the proposal under this action, it should be noted that:

           -    actions must lead to a shift of an average of 30 million tkm per year per contract;

           -   maximum EU support - 35% of all eligible costs, but cannot be more than 2€ per 500 t/km shifted of the project;

           -   supporting infrastructure may be granted not more than 20% of the support;

           -   the project must be implemented within the period of  5 years.

 

 

  3.      Common learning action

           Common learning actions lead to improvements in commercial services that offer alternatives to transport by road. They focus on enhancing and disseminating knowledge of optimisation of or advances in freight logistics and on improving co-operation. These actions must be innovative, and have a clear added value for Europe. They achieve this in particular by sharing know-how. Consequently, they generally involve more partners than other types of action. This action should extend knowledge in the sector of freight logistics and would promote new cooperation methods and procedures in freight market.

           Upon the submission of the proposal under this action, it should be noted that:

           -   a minimum requested support sum for 1 project must be 250.000 EUR;

           -   maximum EU support - 50% of all eligible costs;

           -   the project must be implemented within the period of  2 years;

           -   the results of the project must be disseminated (a promotion plan must be prepared). 

 

   4.      Motorways of the sea action

            Motorways of the Sea actions offer a door-to-door service which combines short-sea shipping with other forms of transport. These actions innovate in terms of logistics, equipment, products and services. In addition, they are selected because of what they offer in quality of service, simpler procedures and inspections, higher safety and security standards, access to ports, efficient hinterland connections, and flexible and efficient port services.

            Upon the submission of the proposal under this action, it should be noted that:

            -  actions are, as a result, only for projects using larger ports, i.e. those with a total annual traffic volume of not less than 1.5 million tonnes of freight and/or 200,000 passengers per year;

            -  actions must lead to a shift of an average of 200 million tkm per year per contract;

            -  maximum EU support - 35% of all eligible costs, but the subsidy can never be more than €2 for each 500 tkm of the project;

            -   supporting infrastructure may be granted not more than 20% of the support;

           -   the project must be implemented within the period of  5 years.

 

 

     5.     Traffic avoidance

 

             Traffic avoidance actions go beyond taking freight off the roads; they innovate by integrating transport into production process. They make the whole supply chain more efficient. They can do this, for example, by cutting the journey distance, increasing loads, reducing the number of empty runs or reducing the amount of waste. These efficiency gains must not, however, be at the expense of jobs or total output.

            Upon the submission of the proposal under this action, it should be noted that:

            -  actions must lead to a shift from road to other forms of transport of an average of 80 million tkm per year per contract or 4 million vehicle kilometres a year;

            -   maximum EU support - 35% of all eligible costs, but cannot be more than 2€ per 500 t/km or 25 vehicle kilometres of road freight avoided and the deficit of the project.;

            -   supporting infrastructure may be granted not more than 20% of the support;

            -   the project must be implemented within the period of  5 years.

 

 

  Eligible applicants

          Projects of actions must cover at least two countries, either two Member States or one Member State and a nearby third country. In addition to EU undertakings, those from the European Economic Area (EEA) - Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - can participate fully in Marco Polo. So can enterprises in Croatia. These are countries which have concluded special participation agreements. Other "close third countries" can participate as well, but funding will only cover project costs occurring on the territories of EU Member States or the EEA countries and Croatia.

         Projects must be of international importance.

 Calls for proposals are published once a year

          The Marco Polo Work Programme 2011 was adopted by the European Commission on         31 March 2011. Call text laying down detailed rules for submission and selection of specific actions to be funded under the Programme in 2011 will be adopted separately from the Work Programme 2011. It is expected that the Call for Proposals 2011 will be published in autumn of 2011.

   

        Previously published calls and their conditions are available at the website of the European Commission

 

http://ec.europa.eu./comm/transport/marcopolo/index_en.htm

tren-marco-polo@ec.europa.eu

 Information prepared by

Transport Policy Department