The European Union Affairs Committee will hold a sitting on European connections in Pärnu

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali pointed out that the high-speed railway Rail Baltic and the Via Baltica road were large-scale and important infrastructure projects and their construction had to be completed, as good connections with Europe must be our priority.

“A double-track railway connection and a 2+2 road are important in terms of security, economy and tourism. In the foreseeable future, the east-west connections from the days the Russian Empire will not contribute to Estonia’s development, nor to the movement of people, goods and services within the European Union. If our land connections from north to south are not fast enough and do not have good capacity, this is a clear security risk,” Tali stated.

Experts in the field and representatives of Pärnu region have been invited to open the debate. Head of Mobility Development and Investments Department of the Ministry of Climate Eva Killar will speak about connections and their importance from the aspect of military mobility. Chairman of the Management Board of Rail Baltic Estonia Anvar Salomets will give an overview of the current situation of the Rail Baltic.

Mayor of Pärnu Romek Kosenkranius will focus on the importance of regional land and air connections in his speech. Andrus Kärpuk, Head of Pärnu County Public Transport Centre, will discuss the regional cross-border connections created with the support of the European Union, using the example of the project of bus service between Estonia and Latvia. Erik Reinhold, Head of Pärnu County Development Centre, will speak about Pärnu Airport and state aid targeted at regional airports.

The sitting will take place in the premises of Pärnu Airport, starting at 11 a.m. It is scheduled to last until 2 p.m. After the sitting, the European Union Affairs Committee plans to visit the first section of the Rail Baltic Pärnu Logistics Centre.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The European Union Affairs Committee will hold a sitting on European connections in Pärnu

Source: Parliament of Estonia