References

 

Technical Assistance to Support Moldova’s Alignment with EU Waterborne Transport Acquis (Transport Community)

TAS and TiEG EEIG are proud to contribute to the Republic of Moldova’s European integration process through the provision of high-level technical assistance in the waterborne transport sector.

Commissioned by the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, the project aims to strengthen Moldova’s regulatory framework in inland waterway and maritime transport, contributing to enhanced safety, environmental standards, passenger protection, and market integration. The assignment supports Moldova’s broader European integration objectives and its progressive integration into the EU transport market.

The project combines strategic planning and legislative drafting through four key components:

• Regulatory Gap Analysis – Assessment of Moldova’s existing legal and institutional framework against relevant EU requirements.
• Transposition Plan – Development of a structured roadmap for aligning national legislation with EU waterborne transport acquis.
• Implementation Roadmap & Impact Assessment – Evaluation of institutional, economic, and operational implications, including cost-benefit analysis and phased implementation planning.
• Legislative Drafting – Preparation of draft laws, amendments, explanatory notes, and concordance tables to ensure full compliance with EU standards.

The work is carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Naval Agency of Moldova, ensuring practical, sustainable, and nationally owned reforms.

Through this assignment, TAS Europrojects contributes to strengthening Moldova’s transport governance and advancing its path toward full European integration.

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FERRMED Global Study and Monitoring of the Great Axis Rail Freight Network (Scandinavia – Rhein – Rhone – Western Mediterranean)

FERRMED is a multisectoral association of more than 150 institutions and industrial companies from 13 countries, with the aim of promoting the development and industrial competitiveness of rail transportation of goods and products between the North and South Western Europe (the specific activities and objectives are detailed below).

By the end of 2023 FERRMED finalized its “FERRMED Study of Traffic and Modal Shift Optimisation in the EU (45.000 hours of work and 24 experts involved from all over the EU). The Study covered in detail 77.240 kms of corridors related to the EU Extended Core Network (railway, road and inland waterways)

As an outcome, the Study clearly identified the challenges that impede achieving rail freight share and environmental targets in land freight transport in the EU. And the solution to this fundamental issue is the revolutionary +FIRRST (FERRMED Fast, Flexible Integrated Rail-Road System of Transport) system.

The +FIRRST system is also a solution fully aligned with the EC Green Deal goals.

For this reason, the next step is the +FIRRST gradual implementation over the EU, in pursuit of these goals, FERRMED has constituted a strong Stakeholders’ Alliance to ask for the European Commission’s support for the realization of the +FIRRST System pilot test development and to actively participate in its future gradual implementation across the EU.

The promoters of this Stakeholder Alliance are FERRMED, ESC (European Shippers Council), IRU (International Road Union) and UIRR (International Union of Combined Road-Rail Transport Companies). The Stakeholder’s Alliance will be constituted as well by transport and logistics associations; shippers; railway Infrastructure managers; logistics and railway operators; intermodal terminals; road transporters; main ports; European organizations; etc

 Some years ago FERRMED also launched the preparation of a “Global” Study funded by the EU Ten-T agency (currently INEA) and several regional and member states through grants.

TAS led the support to FERRMED, for this study and monitoring started in 2005 with a consortium of 12 consultancy firms from 10 European Countries. The capacity building and dissemination programme is also included in the actions. TAS was also in charge for dissemination activities and capacity building of the different stakeholders, Railway Authorities, Infrastructure Managers and Railways undertakings, as well as concerned transport organisations, EU Members States Ministries and Institutions.

The aim of the study was to match Freight Supply and Demand during the period 2005-2025 in the FERRMED great axis Area of influence and to optimize traffic between the different modes of transportation with a view of taking up to 30-35% of long distance inland traffic by rail implementing FERRMED standards and improving the conditions of capacity, inter-modality and interoperability of the rail in this Great Axis Network. The needs of terminals have been also evaluated.

The study identified and appraised the short and medium-term actions to be undertaken by the operators for operation improvements (quality, reliability, punctuality, traceability and costs), including free competition and the implementation of new railway transportation methods. A cost benefit analysis wase undertaken as well as an environmental analysis and a legal and regulatory assessment.

The global aim of the study was to match Supply and Demand during the period 2005-2025 in the “great axis” area and to optimize traffic between the different modes of transportation with a view of taking up to 30-35% of long-distance inland traffic by rail implementing FERRMED standards and improving the conditions of capacity, inter-modality and interoperability of the rail in this Great Axis Network. The needs of new logistic terminals in Urban Cities were also evaluated.

The study has identified and appraised the short- and medium-term actions to be undertaken by the operators for operation improvements (quality, reliability, punctuality, traceability and costs), including free competition, the implementation of new railway transportation methods and urban cities solutions. A cost benefit analysis has been undertaken as well as an environmental analysis and a legal and regulatory assessment promoting the EU acquis in Railway sector.

The activities and objectives of the FERRMED association are:

1. The Promotion of the creation of the Great Axis Rail Network (Scandinavia – Rhein – Rhone – Western Mediterranean)
2. The great Axis Network is seen as the “backbone” of Western Europe. This Network interconnects the most important maritime and fluvial ports, the most important economic Cities and Regions (2/3 of the EU population equivalent to 340 M people) and the main East-West axes of the EU, spanning over 3,500 km from Stockholm and Helsinki to Algeciras and Genoa, crossing 13 countries, encompassing Northern and Baltic Sea basins with Western Mediterranean coasts.
3. The Promotion of the implementation of FERRMED Standards according to European standards
4. Interoperability, safety, reliability, traceability are the key words to improve the competitiveness of rail in the EU. Promotion of rail standards was the way to attain this goal. FERRMED works in the issue from an overall social-economic-technical perspective and proposes European standards for European rail networks such as the width of the tracks, UIC C loading gauge, the freight trains length, intermodal and polyvalent terminals, and By-passes to cross Urban Cities, Human Resources Management, monitoring systems, traffic schedules, administrative formalities and social legislation.
5. The Improvement of intermodal transportation
6. The Contribution to a more sustainable overall development through the reduction of the environmental impact.

Studies have been carried out on the following topics:

• The freight demand calculation
• Interoperability and modernisation of the infrastructure: adoption of FERRMED standards
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Environmental impact assessment
• Development of operational management and market-oriented methods.

Overall Conclusions and recommendations to the European Commission (TEN-T) and Members States.

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Cost Benefit Analysis of Lithuanian Rail Baltic section

The objective of the study was to analyse the best alternatives for the railway line section Polish/Lithuanian border – Kaunas, the first section of the Rail Baltic. The study identified first of all different technical variants and selected two variants for each section through undertaking a Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA. The CBA enabled to identify the best alternative, in terms of financial and socio-economic viability, compared with other alternative in the section Polish-Lithuanian border – Jesia combined with other two variants in the section Jesia – Rokia – Palemonas. The analysis of the four alternatives has determined the best choice for implementation in the section under the study.

The CBA applied to the section under study is based on the methodology and findings of the Global CBA proposed in a previous study and compatible with EU recommendations. The Global CBA, which studied Rail Baltica’s network as a whole, determined the project’s economic viability and the exact co-financing requirements from the EU.

The CBA has been built upon two analyses, financial and economic. Firstly, the Financial CBA analysis estimates investments, financing, income and expenditures for the alternatives that have been defined in the traffic report in order to assess and recommend an optimal investment solution for the Project. Secondly, the Economic CBA analysis allows to incorporate all the positive and negative externalities not contemplated by a typical financial analysis (ex.: emission and environmental impact, travel time, safety impact) and their possible impact on a country’s overall economy).

The initial results were verified by a sensitivity analysis considering a variation 125% and 80% for all assumptions and variables. Passenger traffic significantly impacts the economic profitability due to the impact on the local population as well as CAPEX considerably modify the financial and economic attractiveness of the project. The final results of the four alternatives show limited financial losses (-2%) and positive economic results (around 6%).

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CAOA: Building capacity of the public training sector in Egypt

The Central Agency for Organisation and Administration (CAOA) in the leading governmental body in the professionalization process of the civil service in Egypt. The CAOA (and more specifically its Training Sector) has the practical day-to-day role in managing and monitoring the implementation of training initiatives for 6 million civil servants and is central to improvements in the Civil service.

The purpose of this project was to improve the capacities of the CAOA’s Training Sector to ensure that the provision of training to civil servants is based on relevant developmental programmes implementing modern training methods with effective evaluation procedures.

Specific services delivered:

• Training of 600 managers and trainers on Training need assessment techniques
• Reform of the selection and evaluation process of trainers
• Setting up of a database for trainings and trainers
• Training of 600 trainers on modern training delivery techniques
• Design of 20 training modules to be used in the future for Egyptian civil servants

TAS was responsible in organizing important aspects of the project:

• backstopping the expert in training design and delivery and the expert in training evaluation systems.
• assessment and monitoring principal weakness and strengths of CAOA to reinforce or improve in the Public training sector
• communications deliverables as the setting up of a newsletter of the project to sensitize managers of the public sector in the ongoing reforming process

Consortium partners:

• B&S Europe (Belgium)
• IQ management (Egypt)

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Support to parliamentary development in Lebanon

TAS Europrojects, (in a consortium led by IMG with the French National Assembly, Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh org., and ) has been awarded an Agreement by the European Commission to carry out a project to assist in parliamentary development in Lebanon. The intervention will respond to specific needs expressed by the Parliament of Lebanon. Based on the Terms of Reference of the European Commission the project will provide support in the following areas:

        Law-making process

        Parliamentary Oversight

        Research and Policy Analysis Capacity

        Institutional Role

The support to the Parliament is aiming at strengthening the capacities of MPs and staffers. The activities target the improvement of the practice of scrutiny of draft legislation, and concentrate on the duties and responsibilities of the different parliamentary bodies, as well as the working methods and mechanisms to improve the quality of the legislation in general. In the area of parliamentary oversight the rules that are important for the oversight function will be examined and recommendations will be developed for strengthening oversight capacities. In the research component a research strategy will be developed and staffers will be trained on modern research techniques. Recommendations will provided on how to use more effectively internal and external available research resources. The project will organize activities, which show good examples on how the parliamentary activities can get more visibility. A more visible institution will result in a more effective legislative process and at the same time ensure stronger support for the democratic structures in the country. Support will also be provided to promote an effective use of modern, up-to-date communication channels; first and foremost the internet based communication with special focus on the content of the website of the parliament.

The general objectives of the project were:

• Improved quality of legislation and more effective and transparent legislative process in Parliament;
• Increased use of oversight instruments by Parliament and parliamentary committees;
• Development and implementation of a research strategy in Parliament;
• Increased use by MPs and parliamentary committees of internal and external research resources;
• Increased visibility for the citizens of parliamentary activities;

More effective use of the parliamentary website.

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Feasability study of the Bioceanic railway corridor Peru-Bolivia-Brazil

The strategic goal of the project was aimed at connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans through a railway corridor going from Brazil to the Pacific coast in Peru or Chile, crossing through Bolivia.

The overall objective of the project was to determine the feasibility of railway interconnection and of the entire CBRC through the development of different studies: technical, economic, financial and environmental for the effective development of the project.

The project’s aim was to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the commercial, market and logistics future perspectives in Bolivia, in parallel to other preparation studies for the construction of the bi-oceanic railway:

1. GIS study to determine the best route for the railway
2. Strategic study- Economic, financial, regulatory
3. EIA

The construction of this corridor has represented the most favourable alternative for national and regional trade development and socio-economic integration. For this reason, the government of Bolivia has prioritized improvement of existing roads and construction of missing railway sections. To this end, the Bolivian State hired four complementary studies, including a Market Study on analysis demand, forecasting (from 2015 to 2050) and logistics commercial alternatives. The study took into account all potential types of cargo that could be transported through the CBRC, considering global, regional and domestic trade.

The project consisted of 3 phases:
Phase I: Commercial prospective
Phase II: Market study
Phase III: Study of alternative complementary logistics

TAS was directly responsible for:

• Market Study including Socioeconomic study, Commercial prospective, Demand analysis, analysis of transports logistics, assessment and evaluation of export and imports
• Investment Plan and financing analysis including PPP study for construction of multimodal terminal: PFI Model (private finance initiative)
• Data collection and analysis. Fieldwork. Preparation of questionnaires, interviews … Conducting the interviews, surveys, focus groups and others. Making trips to major production and commercial areas. Visits to Brazil, Peru and Argentina.
• Analysis of the economic development of Bolivia and the region (production, trade, transport). Centers, economic flows and economic corridors. Analysis of the population of Bolivia and the region. Assessment and Evaluation imports / exports.
• Summary and review of existing studies of prospective commercial freight and passenger mobility worldwide, South American and National
• Report comparative prices, modes of transport and influence in markets.

Training to the Bolivian Ministry of Transport in software application, analysis and reporting of study results.

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Impact assessment and export potential analysis in view of Belarus accession to the WTO

TAS and TIEG EEIG implemented this project with the overall objective to project was to provide advice and technical assistance to the Ministries of Economy and Foreign Affairs of Belarus (the Beneficiary) in two interlinked areas, each to be covered by a detailed study:

• Trade policy advice and macro- and microeconomic modelling aimed at assisting the ongoing accession process of Belarus to the WTO, thus contributing to the final stages of accession negotiations of the Republic of Belarus. The study took into account the actual state of Belarus’ accession process, the commitments already undertaken, the further requests from the WTO Members and the implications of the possible terms of WTO accession. This was also done through detailed ad-hoc modelling, which provided the basis for the conclusions and recommendations that were provided to the Beneficiary.
• Detailed proposals for the Republic of Belarus’ future FTA policies, aimed at helping the beneficiary develop Belarus’ strategy concerning its upcoming FTA initiatives for either goods, services or foreign direct investment. The work covered all relevant areas of the preferential relations, the underlying trade policy objectives, the WTO rules applicable for FTAs and customs unions, as well as the modelling of the impacts, specifically from the aspect of Belarus’ economic-trade interests, both at macro-economic and sectoral levels. This study also included detailed conclusions and recommendations for the Beneficiary.

The studies were prepared by a team specialised in all the necessary disciplines, such as the relevant WTO rules and trade policy practices, modelling methods at both macro- and micro-economic levels, as well as the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the results of the modelling.

Both studies contained detailed descriptions of the baseline situation of Belarus’ WTO accession and its FTA policies, underpinned by textual information and data. In this manner, the expected changes in both areas spelt out in the further chapters of the studies could be compared to the point of departure. The studies also covered the trade policy aspects of both subjects, the possibilities and limitations of Belarus’ field of action, what was underpinned by detailed modelling done at both the macroeconomic and sectoral levels. The modelling results were supplemented by textual assessments. It was also pointed out that while in the area of WTO accession the country was more constrained by the requests of the WTO members, there was a higher degree of freedom to formulate its future FTA policies. Taking into account these different circumstances, both studies contained the Conclusions and Recommendations of the team for the use of the high-level decision-makers of the Republic of Belarus.

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