SE European Ministers Discuss Development of Rail Infrastructure

Ministers attending a meeting on the development of the rail infrastructure in Southeast Europe in Brussels on Friday signed a declaration and a political resolution expressing readiness to develop a sustainable transport infrastructure.

In attendance were representatives of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, and the European Commission.

The EC estimates that two billion euros should be invested in the region's rail infrastructure by 2020 so that it could meet minimum effectiveness standards.

The State Secretary for Transport at the Croatian Ministry for the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development, Dražen Breglec, said Croatia would continue to set aside four per cent of the country’s GDP for the transport infrastructure. He added that future investments would focus on railways after 85 per cent of highways were completed in 2008.

European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the development of an appropriate and reliable transport network was a prerequisite for economic progress in the region and social integration. He added that the rail infrastructure would also help expand the European market and provide for a more harmonious development of the continent.

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