Thus, infrastructure pricing needs to be based on the user pays principle, which implies that transport users pay for the
construction and maintenance of the infrastructure they utilise. Furthermore, a key component of EU policy is to increase the potential of private finance through new financial instruments. In this respect, attention is given to the further development of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Member States are encouraged to make wider use of PPPs in financing and extending transport infrastructure (EC, 2011a). These objectives are supported by several EU-funded research projects in the area of financing of transport infrastructure.