2001年-世界发展银行全球_A_Strategy_for_Slovakias_Transport_Sector_63页_1mb

Summary of "A Strategy for Slovakia's Transport Sector"

Core Content

This document outlines a strategic framework for the development of Slovakia's transport sector, focusing on economic growth, regional equity, EU accession, and fostering competition. It emphasizes the need for proactive measures to address current challenges and align the sector with EU standards and market principles.

Main Strategic Objectives

1. Economic Growth and Regional Disparities

   • Efficient transport services are essential for Slovakia's economic growth.
   • The goal is to achieve sustained annual growth of at least 3%, while reducing regional income disparities.
   • There is a significant economic gap between the eastern and western provinces.
   • The eastern regions have lower per capita incomes and higher unemployment compared to the western regions.
   • Slovakia needs 31 years to reach the EU average per capita income, assuming a 5% growth rate in Slovakia and 3% in the EU.

2. Decentralization

   • The government is beginning to implement decentralization, increasing the number of administrative regions from 8 to 12.
   • New regions will need training, financial support, and technical expertise to fulfill their responsibilities.
   • The transport sector must be restructured to reflect the new administrative framework.

3. EU Accession

   • EU accession will bring changes to the transport sector, including the loss of regulatory protections against foreign competition.
   • The Single Market will require reforms to make the sector more competitive.
   • The Slovakia TINA projects are estimated to cost 4–7.5 billion Euros, with 1.2 billion Euros in potential losses due to inefficiencies.
   • The government has a high responsibility to ensure EU-compatible reforms to maximize the benefits of accession.

4. Competition

   • The transport sector must function efficiently and provide quality services that users are willing to pay for.
   • Some sectors remain under state or private monopolies, which need to be reformed.
   • A minimum level of state regulation is required to ensure fair market practices and discourage anti-competitive behavior.
   • The fourth strategic objective is to stimulate and support the implementation of market principles.

Key Impediments to Change

• Financial Constraints:

  • Previous governments, particularly the Meciar administration, focused on motorway construction at the expense of maintenance and other transport infrastructure.
  • The Road Fund has not received sufficient funding from transport fuel taxes and vehicle licenses, leading to short-term borrowing and neglected maintenance.
  • The SRA and ŽSR have relied on short-term loans to cover deficits.

• Social Values:

  • Slovakia's history under the socialist system has led to a strong reliance on state funding for transport.
  • Transition to a market-based system requires users and beneficiaries to take on more responsibility for transport costs.
  • There is resistance to change among those accustomed to state support.

• Geographic and Historical Barriers:

  • The Carpathian Mountains have historically limited transport between east and west.
  • The eastern regions are more connected to Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine, but less to Bratislava.
  • The western regions are more developed and integrated with the Czech Republic, making them more attractive for investment.
  • A transport strategy must prioritize eastern regions to reduce economic disparities.

Sector Policy Overview

The Sector Policy outlines twelve key themes, including the relationship between the state, transport carriers, and citizens, equality of economic competition, public interest in funding and charging, modernization of infrastructure, integration with the environment, technical standards, safety and reliability, quality of services, information and statistics, labor and legal considerations, foreign integration, and science and research in transport.

• Emphasis is placed on market principles and EU harmonization.
• The policy supports the four strategic objectives and aims to align the transport sector with European standards.
• It encourages decentralization, user charge recovery, and institutional reform.

Road Infrastructure

• The Slovakia road network is 17,734 km, with a density similar to Hungary but half that of the Czech Republic and Poland.
• Motorways are 292 km, comparable to Poland and Slovenia, but less than Czech Republic and Hungary.
• Urban roads are 25,000 km, managed by towns and communities.
• Road maintenance has been neglected, with many bridges in a precarious condition.
• Routine maintenance is managed at the regional level, while bridge maintenance is still conducted by force account.
• The SRA has 5,000 staff, with 500 at headquarters, 100 in each regional office, and 100 in each maintenance depot.

Road Transport

• Road freight transport is dominated by heavy trucks, which have increased without corresponding infrastructure improvements.
• International permits and road passenger transport are areas requiring attention.
• The strategy recommends market-oriented reforms and improved regulatory frameworks to support competition.

Railways

• The rail system is in need of modernization and restructuring.
• Mode share of rail is low, and strategic investments are necessary to improve efficiency.
• Finances for railways are under pressure, with ŽSR (Slovak State Railways) facing significant deficits.
• The EU-compatible institutions and regulatory reforms are essential for railway development.

Urban Public Transport

• Urban transport vehicles and passenger trips have increased, but infrastructure and services need improvement.
• Vehicle operators are a mix of public and private entities, with public service obligations (PSOs) playing a key role.
• Safety, traffic management, and urban road maintenance are critical areas for development.

Aviation

• Bratislava Airport is a key transport hub, with passenger projections indicating growth.
• The strategy includes railway connections to support aviation growth and regional integration.

Inland Waterways

• The Danube River and Rhine–Main–Danube Canal are important for waterway traffic.
• Industrial organization and regional integration are necessary for the development of inland waterways.
• The strategy emphasizes improving infrastructure and enhancing connectivity.

A Transport Strategy

• The strategy includes objectives, competition, and recommended policy actions.
• It suggests prioritizing maintenance, reforming funding mechanisms, and establishing a more sustainable institutional framework.
• The World Bank can play a supporting role in institutional reform, infrastructure maintenance, decentralization, and regional development.

Potential Role of the World Bank

• The World Bank can assist with institutional reform, infrastructure maintenance, and decentralization.
• It can also help with regional development and financial support for the transport strategy.

Conclusion

The document highlights the need for proactive action, sustainable maintenance, and market-oriented reforms in Slovakia's transport sector. It stresses the importance of EU alignment, decentralization, and user charge recovery to ensure the sector is prepared for future challenges and opportunities.