Growth and development in the EU will be difficult without a workable transport system across its regions, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told the European Parliament stressing the need for significant tailor-made budgetary commitment that expresses local needs in transport infrastructure.
“Direct aid to all forms of public transport remains also essential.” said Dr Sant when voting in favour of a report ‘promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures.
The Maltese MEP said that in light of proposed cuts for the upcoming MFF, one cannot but emphasise that EU funding dedicated to transport structures stands as the most visible EU funding instrument. Currently, congestion affects both road and air traffic and costs Europe around 1% of annual GDP.
Dr Sant said that without appropriate measures, this will increase drastically. Congestion in urban areas is most impressive. It is having negative impacts on both economic productivity as well as on the individuals’ wellbeing. In the most jammed cities of the EU, one could take up to 50% extra travel time to get to destination.
“I voted in favour of this Resolution because it promotes necessary policies towards an integrated multimodal transport network, allowing people and goods to move easily within the different regions of the EU. Further, it emphasises that a more integrated investment in basic transport infrastructures in remote and low accessibility regions, amongst others, need to be targeted more intensively.”
The Report passed with 475 votes in favour, 153 against and 22 abstentions.
Maltese Version – TRASPORT EFFIĊĊJENTI FL-EWROPA KOLLHA ESSENJALI GĦAT-TKABBIR U L-IŻVILUPP
It-tkabbir u l-iżvilupp ikunu diffiċli li jseħħu mingħajr sistema ta’ trasport tajba mifruxa mar-reġjuni kollha tal-UE, qal Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew meta saħaq dwar il-ħtieġa ta’ baġit imfassal apposta għall-bżonnijiet lokali fl-infrastruttura tat-trasport.
“Għajnuna diretta lejn il-forom kollha tat-trasport pubbliku tibqa’ essenzjali.” qal Dr Sant li vvota favur ir-rapport ‘Il-promozzjoni ta’ trasport sostenibbli u t-tneħħija tal-konġestjoni tat-traffiku f’networks prinċipali”.
L-MEP qal li fid-dawl tat-tnaqqis fil-baġit Ewropew għas-seba’ snin li jmiss, wieħed ma jistax ma jenfasizzax li l-fondi tal-UE iddedikati għall-istruttura tat-trasport huma l-iktar strument viżibbli ta’ fondi Ewropej. Bħalissa, il-konġestjoni taffettwa kemm it-traffiku fit-toroq kif ukoll tal-ajru u tiswa lill-Ewropa madwar 1% tal-Prodott Gross Domestiku (PGD).
“Ivvotajt favur din ir-Riżoluzzjoni għax tinkoraġġixxi politika bżonnjuża ta’ network integrat tat-trasport, li tippermetti lin-nies u l-merkanzija jivvjaġġaw faċilment bejn ir-reġjuni differenti tal-UE. Aktar minn hekk, tenfasizza investiment integrat fl-infrastruttura tat-trasport bażiku f’żoni remoti u b’nuqqas ta’ aċċessibilita`.”
Dr Sant qal li mingħajr miżuri ġusti, it-traffiku se jiżdied aktar. Il-konġestjoni fiż-żoni urbani hija impressjonanti. Qed ikollha impatt negattiv kemm fuq il-produzzjoni ekonomika, u anki fuq saħħet il-bniedem. Fl-ibliet l-aktar konġestjonati, wieħed jista’ jieħu sa 50% aktar ħin biex jivjaġġja għad-destinazzjoni tiegħu.
Ir-Rapport għadda b’475 voti favur, 153 kontra u 22 astenzjoni.
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