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Next step in fulfilment of Czech transport priorities
Publication date: 02 March 2009
Source: Czech Presidency
Minister Bendl in Germany – Next step in fulfilment of Czech transport priorities
On 26 February Czech Minister of Transport Petr Bendl visited Germany where he met German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development Wolfgang Tiefensee.
The meeting was very important for the Czech Republic, not only due to the close cooperation with the Germans about fulfilling the Czech Presidency transport priorities.
An important point on the agenda was the road package, which is a main priority of the Czech EU Presidency.
It became clear during the meeting that the Czech Presidency, particularly during the present economic crisis, is conscious of the fact that cabotage (freight transport abroad) is a sensitive issue and therefore hopes that the European Parliament will show a very constructive attitude.
P.Bendl, W.TiefenseeThe Ministers also discussed air traffic. According to Bendl, Prague and Berlin will seek to arrange a joint meeting between Germany and the Czech Presidency on one side and Canada on the other about an agreement between the EU and Canada on flight connections. Germany’s cooperation with Canada in this area is unique, and it is in the interest of the EU to extend this arrangement to the whole of Europe. "We have not arrived at an agreement yet, but we are committed to reaching one", said Bendl. In this area the Czech Republic, according to Petr Bendl, wants to contribute further to making it possible for the European Parliament to approve the package of changes to the current legislation on the Single European Sky. The aim of these changes is to introduce a modernised system of air traffic management which would lead to more efficient air traffic flows in the EU and reduce the impact of air traffic on the environment. Minister Tiefensee stated that the Presidency and Germany have the same interest in moving this issue forward.
According to the Ministers, the Czech Republic and Germany are both in support of the development of the Trans-European Network and creation of new high-speed rail corridors.
The development of new extensions of the high-speed railway from Dresden to Prague, as a part of the Trans-European Network, will be “significantly more complicated” than the modernisation of the section between Berlin and Dresden, said Tiefensee. That is to say that it will require exactly staking out the route and resolving issues relating to building regulations, the German Minister suggested the possible complications of the construction of the Berlin – Brno corridor. “It will take some time; and unless we start now with full force it will not be completed fast enough”, pointed out Tiefensee. He added that the relevant plans should be completed “within the next decade” which, according to him, is a very ambitious goal. Only on the basis of these plans can the European Union provide the relevant funds.
Bendl emphasised that the Dresden – Prague – Brno corridor is among the priorities of the transport policy of the Czech Republic. However, he also underscored that Germany has a right to solve the problem of transit railways independently. “In case the corridor goes across the Czech Republic, we are ready and willing to help”, said Bendl.
Contact:
* Lada Hlaváčková, spokesperson of the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic for the Presidency
* tel: +420 225 131 530, GSM: +420 607 946 989; e-mail: lada.hlavackova@mdcr.cz
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