UK members urge for adequate funding for sustainable transport

​Despite wading through 70 amendments, CoR members adopted the opinion on the Implementation of the 2011 European Commission White Paper on Transport, drafted by Greek European People's Party member Spyros Spyridon.

Through the hour-long debate on the first day of April's plenary (16/04/15), members voiced concerns over the lack of transport in rural areas and described the EUR 2.7 billion proposed in the Juncker plan for the project as "inadequate investment".

Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council and Vice-President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, defended the 60th amendment in the opinion, which emphasised that the investment was too limited, he said.

Bore, who was vocal throughout the debate, also pressed for social dumping and modes of transport to be included in the opinion - both of which the Rapporteur was against.

Gordon Keymer, Leader of Tandridge District Council and President of the European Conservatives and Reformist group at CoR, argued for emphasis to be given on geographical cohesion in his defence of Amendment 33.

Spyridon (EL/EPP), following the adoption, said: "I am honoured that the Committee unanimously adopted the opinion for transport."

Focal to the opinion was the importance of transport for economic development and competitiveness of Europe and the spatial and social cohesion and the need for more balanced development of the network between the regions.

He added: "We stressed the importance of further development and use of environmentally friendly methods of transport, either electrically in cities, or water and rail, because transport particularly affects the levels of air pollution."

EU regions and cities also recommended connecting international air transport hubs to global TEN-T networks, as well as creating transport chains for passengers and freight to reduce air traffic at airports and air pollution.