Rail Steering Group meeting in Poland
Alleen de uitgesproken tekst geldt.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Traffic and transport between Poland and the Netherlands is not something new. The intensive contact our countries have had goes back centuries. Or rather, it goes back a millennium! Grain, salt, herrings, timber, the Netherlands was glad to buy it all from Poland. Especially in Gdansk, there are still many signs of the times when our trade relations were at their height.
Today we are writing a new chapter in the book of Polish and Dutch relations. We are firmly committed to a rail corridor between Rotterdam and Warsaw. For me, this is not a question of if but of when it should happen.
At the moment, Dutch consultant and Polish consultants are setting down the traffic flows and bottlenecks of this corridor. What are the possibilities between our two countries? They began work on this study in August and the first results will be available in early December.
I can hardly wait, and this is why.
[priority]
The Netherlands lies at the mouth of the Rhine and Meuse rivers, on the North Sea. We are by our very nature, the gateway to Europe. From the port of Rotterdam – the largest port in Europe – virtually every major economic centre can be reached within 24 hours. Our country is small in size, but big within the global transport network. A few facts to give you an impression:
· We are the world’s fifth largest exporter and seventh largest importer.
· We are responsible for over one-fifth of European road transport.
· We are by far the most important inland waterways shipping country in Europe.
We owe our prosperity to our good links with the hinterland.
The Netherlands is therefore deeply committed to the use of railways as a sustainable and efficient form of transport. In 2007, we opened the Betuwe Line, a dedicated freight line that runs from the port of Rotterdam to the German border.
Although the line runs on further, it’s often no easy matter to move the freight further. This requires properly connecting links in the chain. To enable goods to reach their destination in a single fluid motion. The admission of locomotives, different technical systems, different safety regulations and the availability of terminals; these are well-known obstacles in international rail transport.
As is available capacity. A goods train can now arrive at a border and have to wait hours to cross. This should be unthinkable within the European Union. A union that derives its right of existence from the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital.
It is already possible for passengers to board a train in the Netherlands and disembark in the Polish city of Stettin. Without a single transfer. This speed [less than 9 hours travelling time from Amsterdam to Stettin], this convenience, is what we would like for goods transport as well. It is all but impossible to explain the make-up of that impenetrable jungle of technical systems and national and European regulations to outsiders.
Easy entry into Germany, that is the intention. And then crossing the border with ease into Poland. And possibly travelling on to the Baltic States …and perhaps even further eastwards? At the opening of the Betuwe Line, the possibility of making a new start on the silk route to China was actually discussed...
That is the direction we are moving in by setting down traffic flows. In 2008, a similar study was conducted regarding the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. This was a success. The study showed that Central and Eastern Europe are important markets for the Netherlands. And vice versa. The flow of goods is clearly made up of two-way traffic and has the potential to grow. We would not be Dutch if we were not to make the most of this opportunity. Nor will the Polish enterprising spirit allow such an opportunity to pass by.
The study will offer more clarity on some important questions that deserve an answer. What is the potential of a transport corridor between Rotterdam and Warsaw, taking into account the economic crisis as well? A crisis which Poland bears well, by the way. The expectation is that after a dip, the transport sector will grow significantly. Furthermore, we would like to know more about possible routes, the most convenient routes and, of course, the biggest bottlenecks facing transporters.
And ladies and gentlemen,
There will definitely be bottlenecks. This afternoon, the research team lifted a corner of the veil. As expected, the potential is great, but the difficulties are also considerable. This afternoon everyone here brainstormed about possible solutions and we will vigorously continue this in December.
[EU]
Fortunately, we do not have to arrange everything bilaterally. Europe too has placed this item firmly on the agenda. The approach to rail corridors will be anchored in a European regulation. Participation will be mandatory for all EU Member States with railways [25]. And there is a bonus: the Netherlands-Belgium-Germany-Poland-Lithuania corridor has a place in this draft regulation. This allows transporters and shipping agents to claim capacity on the network. In addition, it will oblige the Member States to consult one another and to play a steering role in respect of infrastructure managers and terminals.
In the future, I would like to take up the challenge with you of getting this corridor onto the Trans-European Transport Network list. North-South connections are well represented on the list while East-West connections are lagging behind. Let us change this together!
[2010]
The study will be completed in December. In the first quarter of 2010, I will discuss the results, together with you, Minister Grabarczyk, and other Polish stakeholders. We will draw up a plan of action. In addition, I believe it is of great importance to get Germany and Belgium on board. And this corridor cannot be established without attention for the ERTMS corridor between Aachen and Warsaw. We should make this cooperation a reality.
For me, our meeting today is also a step towards May 2010. At that time I would like to hold a Ministers´ Conference in Rotterdam, completely dedicated to rail corridors. I would definitely like to invite Minister Grabarczyk and Poland to attend, as well as our counterparts from Germany and Belgium. If Lithuania is interested, that country too is very welcome. Perhaps it is a little early to say, but I hope that in May 2010, Poland and the Netherlands will be signing their first cooperation protocol. I believe I have made my point: I would like to get this corridor between the Netherlands and Polska off the ground.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today we are taking another step and that pleases me. It has my full commitment. An open rail transport market is a benefit for every country.
I am looking forward to next year. I hope to meet you all again in May in the Netherlands at the Ministers´ Conference when a high-speed link between Rotterdam and Warsaw will undoubtedly be high on the agenda.