Europe cannot ignore Northern Ireland’s transport needs - Kennedy

The Minister was in Brussels where he was attending the Trans-European Transport Network (Ten-T) Connect To Compete event.

The European Commission published its new TEN-T Guidelines on 19 October 2011. At the same time the Commission published its proposals for establishing a Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Danny Kennedy said: “Today’s event provides a further opportunity for me to lobby European decision makers on my Department’s position in regards to the TEN-T and Connecting Europe Facility regulations. Last month, Brian Simpson, Chair of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, accepted my invitation to visit Northern Ireland and learn more about our particular transport need and networks.

“It is essential that European Transport policy acknowledges our regional variances in terms of transport needs and existing infrastructure. Amendments to the regulations have been secured at European Council level. However, we now need these amendments, and more, to be reflected in the European Parliament’s consideration of the regulations.

“It is for this reason that I have been lobbying the European Parliament on these issues and I have worked with Northern Ireland’s MEPs to table amendments for consideration by the Parliament’s Transport Committee”.