Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan and the EC Director-General for Mobility and Transport Henrik Hololei recently met to discuss transport relations for strengthening bilateral cooperation across all modes to promote better understanding and exchange of experiences.
Both sides agreed on the need to speed up transport related reforms in Ukraine in the framework of the Association Agreement, and to adopt swiftly the National Transport Strategy 2030 and several key framework laws, aimed at European integration in the field of transport.
“We seek better transport connectivity between the EU and Ukraine to ensure more trade, investments, jobs and a balanced economic growth. This first Dialogue is an essential step towards reaching those objectives and deepening transport relations with Ukraine. We look forward to the next Dialogue when we can push forward in implementing Ukraine´s National Transport Strategy,” Henrik Hololei said.
The discussion covered a wide range of topics, but a common view emerged about the importance of developing digital infrastructures and intelligent transport systems, improving road safety, and focusing on environmental sustainability for the future of the sector, without compromising on safety and security.
The two officials welcomed the signing in November 2017 of the High-level Understanding between Ukraine and the EU on the extension of indicative maps of the Core Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to Ukraine. Considering the role played by inland waterways in Ukraine, they shared the need to reflect on its possible inclusion in the TEN-T and to coordinate efforts to resolve outstanding issues in this sector.
Within the meeting, both sides welcomed the European Investment Bank’s on-going initiatives regarding transport infrastructure investment such as the railway Beskyd tunnel which will be opened this spring. The total value of the project was EUR 2.2 billion, of which EIB allotted EUR 55 million-loan, with a USD 40 million loan covered by EBRD and EUR 163 million by Ukrzaliznytsia.
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