UNIFE sends strong signal to reinforce railway investment in Central and Eastern Europe

UNIFE, the European Rail Industry, and CER, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, organised a rail investment seminar in Sofia to address the ‘very slow absorption of European’ funds by the railway sector in many Central and Eastern European member states and in particular in Bulgaria and Romania.
The European Union provides substantial funds for railway infrastructure but only a mere fraction is actually invested, putting rail transport in an ‘unfavourable light and hindering the employment of a modern, sustainable transport in those in those regions’.
Keynote speeches were given by the Bulgarian Minister charged with EU Funds Management, Tomislav Donchev, and the newly appointed Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Ivaylo Moskovski.
Both ministers, Mr Donchev and Mr Moskovski, pledged to remedy the gridlock caused by railway underfinancing.
Making reference to the EU2020 climate objectives, Transport Minister Moskovski made a clear commitment to rail transport in Bulgaria, naming rail investment a political priority for his administration.
Moreover, it became clear that the obstacles to growth in rail transport in Central and Eastern Europe is a consequence of long-lasting and continuing underfinancing of infrastructure and public service contracts in these countries, in contradiction to EU legislation.
Moreover, the following well-respected stakeholders also presented their views on the subject: Andrzej Massel, Polish Undersecretary of State responsible for railways, Jean-Marie Seyler, Director for Bulgaria at the European Commission’s DG REGIO, and Milcho Lambrev, Director-General of the Bulgarian Infrastructure Managers.
The rail industry was represented by the Managing Directors of Balfour Beatty Rail GmbH Germany and ComsaEmte, Dr Manfred Lerch and Miquel Llevat.
A knowledge transfer to Bulgarian authorities was the focus when best practise examples of European funding, such as Spain, were presented.
Setting the scene for the seminar, Michael Clausecker, UNIFE Director-General, listed a number of problems that many Central and Eastern European governments face in the attempt to modernise their railway systems.
These reach from the need to reform the railway sector to project planning, managing and implementing skills.
He stated; “The challenges are enormous, but the European railway industry is ready to help.”
Johannes Ludewig, CER Executive Director, in his speech stated:
“The issue of EU funds absorption is absolutely central: technical assistance programmes such as JASPERS should be coupled with adequate financing from the EU budget.
“But let’s not forget that because of the well-known principle of additionality, EU funds can be spent only if supported by a greater commitment coming from national budgets. It is at national level that rail shall become a priority, if we want to achieve together a decarbonised European transport system.”
Numerous contributions from the panelists and the audience helped to identify the need for a well-designed and widely accepted master plan for the railway sector as a key requirement to improving the situation for rail in Eastern Europe.
UNIFE and CER are at the disposal of the relevant transport authorities to assist in this process.

source: www.rail.co