1 June 2016 – “Sustainability and economy are closely linked in railway transport sector”.
The Memorandum of Understanding for the navigation on Maggiore and Lugano Lakes was signed by Italy and Switzerland.
The Minister of Infrastructures and Transport, Graziano Delrio, who is in Switzerland to participate at the inauguration ceremony of the New Gotthard Tunnel, met his Transport Minister colleagues of the Alpine Countries, in the context of the Bi-annual Conference on Follow-up Zurich Process. The Conference – dedicated to transport safety and traffic transfer policy, was held in Lugano. During the meeting, Minister Graziano Delrio took over the Presidency from Slovenian Minister of Infrastructures Peter Gaspersic. Ministers discussed on the activities carried out in the two-years period of Slovenian Presidency in particular focusing on the dossiers dealing with the ecological aspects of transport, safety improvement in railways tunnels and traffic management tools in the Alpine areas. In the coming years of Italian Presidency, Ministers will focus on a study assessing the possibility of introducing toll system (differentiated tolls for heavy traffic ) also deepening the impact produced by heavy good vehicles on Environment.
During the press conference Minister Delrio has renewed “his commitment to promoting sustainable development of the Alpine Regions, by developing transport alternative energy modes as well as increasing rail freight transport on the basis of data and research provided by the working groups under the Slovenian Presidency”.
Minister Delrio, replying to questions of journalists on the benefits for Italy after the opening of Gotthard Tunnel, has stated that “the Gotthard Tunnel plays a key role in the Genoa-Rotterdam Corridor and represents another step forward in the implementation of new transport modes in Europe”. Minister Delrio has reaffirmed that “sustainable transport is a new priority for Italian Government, by increasing rail transport rather than road transport”. “Sustainability is closely linked to economy in railway transport sector – he continued –. Italy is engaged in the implementation of the Brenner Base Tunnel, Turin-Lyon high-speed rail line and the Terzo Valico Dei Giovi line, which along with the Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels will enhance the four European rail corridors crossing Italy.
As for works in progress, “Italy is implementing all commitments made together with Switzerland in 2012; works are going ahead – Minister Delrio added – and rail infrastructure capacity is enough to meet current needs. By 2020 both Italian and Swiss systems will be completed.
Follow-up Zurich platform - established in 2001 following serious accidents occurred in the Alpine road Tunnels – brought together Germany, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland as well as a representative of the European Commission as a permanent observer and a representative of the Alpine Convention as a guest.
Meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the Rhine-Alpine Corridor with Commissioner Bulc
The Ministers of Transport met in Lugano the Ministers of the Countries crossed by the Genoa-Rotterdam Corridor (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), the European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, the CEOs and Directors General of European railway undertakings.
Bilateral agreement between Italy and Switzerland on Lago Maggiore’s navigation.
In the framework of the Conference, Minister Delrio and Federal Councilor, Doris Leuthard, signed the Memorandum of Understanding for navigation on Maggiore and Lugano Lakes, ruled by an Agreement between the two Countries and by expiring concessions. Through this memorandum, which provides for exploring new approaches as well as identifying a long-term development plan, both Ministers intend to increase tourist attractiveness and transports on these lakes. A joint working group will elaborate proposals in this respect.
Lugano, 31 May 2016
