Transport Sectoral Operational Programme (IPA-II Period 2014-2020)

The Second Period of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), covering the years 2014-2020, is a continuation of the First Period. It will be managed with the purpose of developing capacity for the harmonization with the EU acquis and its implementation as well as developing capacity for economic and social harmonization.

During the new period, the Commission adopted a sectoral approach for ensuring a more efficient use of the funds. In this context, the component-based structure used during the first period of IPA has been abolished. Instead, the specific sectors that are likely to be financed and the sector manager establishments, which would carry out the works in those sectors, have been identified.

The IPA-II Implementing Regulation dated 11th March 2014 and numbered 231/2014 was published in the Official Journal of the EU on the 15th March 2014, while the IPA-II Implementing Regulation dated 2nd May 2014 and numbered 447/2014, was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 3rd May 2014.

On 26th August 2014, the Commission accepted the Indicative Strategy Paper for Türkiye (2014-2020), which reveals the main financing priorities for the assistance provided under the IPA.

The Transport Sectoral Operational Programme (SOPT) (approved with the European Commission decision dated 11th December 2014) is a major instrument for providing the financial assistance of the European Union to the transport sector in Türkiye. The SOPT was developed as a result of the negotiations made with the European Commission and the EU Delegation, as well as the social partners and non-governmental organizations that are active in the transport sector.

During the IPA-II Period, which covers the years 2014-2020, our Ministry would be acting not only as the contracting authority for infrastructure projects, but also as the contracting authority of all kinds of projects to be financed with EU funds in the Transport Sector. The funding provided to the Transport Sector during the IPA-II period is 442.8 Million Euros.

Türkiye is the largest of the EU candidate countries, with a surface area of 783,562 km2. The growth rate of the country is 1.37% (more than the EU countries). Its population is 76.7 million and half are younger than 30 years of age. It is estimated that the total population could exceed 84 million before 2023. The country is the 16th largest economy in the world with a Gross National Product amounting to 614 billion Euros. The income per capita has been almost tripled in less than ten years and now it is above 8000 Euros.

A Customs Union has existed between Türkiye and the EU since 1996. Holding a share of 37.7% in total trade as of 2012, the EU has become Türkiye’s most important economic partner (and Türkiye is the sixth most important trade partner of the EU). Thus, the enhancement of transport connections between the EU and Türkiye is essential for the future.

Türkiye has as an objective to provide further integration of the Turkish economy into the Single European Market and its full integration to the European Single Transport Area. Strategic requirements are necessary to maintain the global competitiveness of the Turkish economy, especially which of the Turkish transport sector, with the objective of integrating the railway infrastructure with other modes of transportation, develop it in a competitive manner and liberalize it with secondary measures that are in line with the EU acquis.

The general objective of Türkiye’s transport sector’s national strategy is to establish a national transport system that has smooth connections with Europe and the rest of the world, functions in a safe and proper manner and is environment friendly, intelligent, accessible, sustainable and useful.

To this end, Türkiye’s Transport and Communication Strategy: aims to increase security, ensure smart pricing, smart urban planning and enhance mass transportation by assuring better mobility at an appropriate cost, less traffic congestion, lower emission levels, lower accident rates, and lower mortality and injury, in accordance with the 2023 objective.

As a leading institution, the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications defines its vision as, “Providing and auditing quality transport, information and communication services to all the users in a safe, environment friendly, equitable and economic manner”. On the other hand, the Ministry defines its mission as, “Increasing the global competitiveness of the country and the life quality of its citizens by providing transport and communication services above the level of contemporary civilization.”

OBJECTIVE of IPA-II SECTORAL ASSISTANCE

The Transport Sectoral Operational Programme, is a major instrument for orienting the financial assistance of the European Union to the transport sector in Türkiye within the framework of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). The general objective of the Transport Sectoral Operational Programme (2014-2020) is to contribute to EU integration in Türkiye with economic and social development by providing a competitive, accessible and sustainable transport system that is in harmony with EU standards.

The Transport Sectoral Operational Programme

• Increasing the sustainability and security of the national transport system;
• Increasing the efficiency of the national transport system;
• Encouraging the transition from individual transportation to sustainable, accessible and extensive modes of mass transportation at a national level as well as at an urban level;
• Strengthening the integration of Türkiye to the EU in the field of transportation by providing a progressive harmonization of the Turkish transport sector with the EU transport acquis;
• Supporting the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications in the management of the Transport Sectoral Operational Programme with a view to ensuring an efficient use of the financing provided by the EU, the donors and the financing provided at the national level in the transport sector of Türkiye.

The expected outcomes of the programme are as follows:

• Ensuring the transition to a transport system that is more secure, environment friendly and that reflects a more balanced modal split;
• Assuring in all the modes of transportation the prevalence of intelligent and innovative solutions that are time-efficient as well as cost-effective;
• Providing more accessibility in all transport services, increasing capacity and effectiveness in urban mass transportation and ensuring a diminution in the traffic congestion and emission deriving from transport in urban areas;
• Developing the legal, institutional and administrative capacities that are required to accept the membership obligations of the acquis with regards to Chapter 14 and 21; enhancing policy dialogue with the EU in the field of transport;

OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS of the PROGRAMME

Action 1- Sustainable and Safe Transport

The main objective of this action is to increase the sustainability and security of the national transport system: 

     Activity 1.1- Developing and modernizing the railway infrastructure;

     Activity 1.2 - Taking measures concerning the environment and Climate Change;

     Activity 1.3- Developing transport security;

     Activity 1.4- Encouraging intermodality and the intermodal transition

Action 2-Efficient Transport

The main objective of this action is to increase the effectiveness of the Turkish national transport system:

     Activity 2.1- Supporting the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategy and other ITS measures

     Activity 2.2- Supporting research and innovation in the field of transport

Action 3- Accessible and Extensive Transport

The main objective of this action is to encourage the transition from individual transportation to sustainable, accessible and extensive modes of mass transportation at the national level, as well as at the urban level:

     Activity 3.1- Accessible Transport

     Activity 3.2- Urban Transport

Action 4- Alignment with the Acquis and EU Integration

The main objective of this action is to strengthen the integration of Türkiye to the EU in the field of transportation by providing a progressive harmonization of the Turkish transport sector with the EU transport acquis:

     Activity 4.1- Increasing the capacity and harmonizing the legislation for the implementation of the acquis

     Activity 4.2- Supporting technical cooperation and dialogue in the field of Transport Policy

Action 5- Technical Assistance

The main objective of this action is to support the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications in the management of the Transport Sectoral Operational Programme with a view to ensuring the most efficient use of the development financing provided by the EU, the donors and the development financing provided at the national level in the transport sector of Türkiye:

     Activity 5.1- Supporting the Programme Authority

     Activity 5.2- Developing the Project Pool

FINANCIAL SITUATION

The Transportation Sectoral Operational Program (USOP) covers the 2014-2020 period with a total of 350.40 Million € IPA budget. The program's subject framework, priorities and objectives are designed in a broad context within the context of the EU's current financial views.

For more detailed information: SOPT 2014-2020

                                                                    SOPT Brochure