6
Jul
2021
Watch
Connecting Europe Facility - Streamlining measures for the realisation of the TEN-T - Railway safety and signalling: Assessing the state of play of the ERTMS deployment (debate)
Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. Transport policy is one of the areas where the EU can bring the greatest added value to EU citizens and businesses. With cooperation and co-financing of robust transport corridors, we can make it easier for companies to create new jobs and for people to get to the jobs that are being created. It is very good that we are today securing the continuation of the Connecting Europe Facility so that we can roll out more double-track railways, broaden more roads to motorways and increase the capacity of EU ports. This is how EU money should be spent, for things that generate real competitiveness. Because when we remove bottlenecks on the busiest routes, it will be easier for industries to get their goods out, and citizens will not have to waste hours in traffic jams and on delayed trains. So this is very important now that we are going to relaunch Europe's economy after the crisis. So let us use this opportunity to equip Europe and move up a gear in the transport network. This will enable us to build a strong and connected Europe.