Prime Minister Juri Ratas and European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport Violeta Bulc met to discuss how the funding of transport infrastructure might continue in the EU beginning in 2021.
“Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has so far been very successful. Without cross-border infrastructure Europe cannot talk about an internal market and fundamental freedoms. Due to the EU facility, traveling and connectivity have substantially improved in Europe, therefore I hope that the facility will continue in the same volume and following the same principles also in the EU’s next budgetary period,” Ratas was quoted by spokespeople as saying.
He added that already at present several large infrastructure projects, like Rail Baltic, had started and continuing with these might prove to be difficult if EU funding principles were to change.
Ratas and Bulc also talked about European air services and opening the transport market as well as the social guarantees of international drivers, which was one of the key topics of Estonia’s EU presidency.
“Increasing Estonia’s air connectivity with the rest of Europe is very important. I am glad that the European Commission has developed an air connectivity index and I hope that based on that Europe’s more remote areas, like Estonia, would be better connected to catchment areas,” Ratas said. (ERR/Business World Magazine)