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- Ελληνικά
The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeadis, participated in the work of the EU Transport Council, with the main topic of discussion being transport as a tool for territorial and social cohesion, on 22 September 2023, in Barcelona.
During the Informal Council of EU Transport Ministers, the discussion focused on the need to take action and define a strategy at European level to make transport a tool for social and territorial cohesion.
Ministers recognised that mobility is a right that must be exercised on equal terms by all European citizens, regardless of whether they live in a big city or a small town, whether their income is high or low, whether they have physical limitations or not, or whether they have a private vehicle or not.
They also noted that the path set out in the European Green Deal, as well as the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and Efficient Connectivity documents for prosperous rural areas by 2040, are moving in the right direction to achieve affordable, economical and equitable mobility across the EU, in urban, sparsely populated or geographically difficult areas and on islands, with a view to achieving social and territorial cohesion.
In his intervention, Mr Vafedis thanked the Spanish Presidency for choosing this topic for discussion and stressed the need to focus on the needs of citizens, both at national and European level, so that policies and strategies can be designed to implement and respond to their needs. Cyprus, the Minister said, is an island at the easternmost tip of the European Union with the only connection to mainland Europe being by air and sea.
This limitation certainly creates challenges for the economy and the competitiveness of the island, the Minister stressed.
In another intervention, Mr. Minister stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, confirmed the need for an integrated trans-European transport network (TEN-T) and the strengthening of the military mobility programme, which was also highlighted by other Ministers.
Finally, he also mentioned that recent extreme weather events, such as floods and fires in various European cities, had highlighted the need for proper planning and financing of road infrastructure, taking into account the need for immediate access for rescue and fire-fighting resources.
The Barcelona Declaration entitled "Mobility for People: Advancing social and territorial cohesion" was also signed on the margins of the Informal Council as a sign of the commitment of EU Transport Ministers to work together to achieve what is stated in the title, namely the use of transport as a tool for social and territorial cohesion.
(AF/SX)
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