LUXEMBOURG — Europe risks “killing” its rail freight sector unless the EU develops a dedicated strategy to reverse years of decline, Czech Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik warned in an interview with POLITICO.
Speaking on the sidelines of this week’s meeting of EU transport ministers in Luxembourg, Bednárik said Prague is leading a coalition of 12 countries pushing the European Commission to develop a dedicated strategy for rail freight. Supporters argue that rail’s declining market share has become not only a transport problem but also a challenge for Europe’s competitiveness, climate goals and security.
“I told Brussels: We have a problem with rail freight,” Bednárik said. “If we don’t do something about it, we will kill rail freight. That’s the reality.”
The Czech-led initiative, set out in a paper presented to transport ministers this week, comes as the Commission prepares proposals for the EU’s next long-term budget and future transport funding programs. Its supporters hope to use those debates to push rail freight higher up the EU agenda and ultimately secure a dedicated strategy from Brussels.
