(30/03/2023) 

A joint letter will thus be sent to the Transport Commissioner, Adina Valean, to urge France to prioritize its actions in the cross-border sections of the Atlantic Corridor. Both countries have renewed their commitment to promote the actions of new infrastructure planned in the Atlantic Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network, as well as to continue working in a coordinated manner during the negotiation of the new Regulation of the Trans-European Transport Network.

With regard to rail transport, actions such as the commissioning, on March 6, of the connection of the Southwest Europe Logistics platform with the Adif network, between Badajoz and the border, have been highlighted, which will allow a greater integration of the logistics system of both countries, and the tendering of the contract for the drafting and processing of the informative study of the South Exit of Vigo. Likewise, the process of exemption from level B1 of Spanish for train drivers from Comboios de Portugal has been completed and the next step is for Renfe to obtain the Safety Certificate in Portugal.

The European Commission’s support for the rail services between Lisbon-La Coruña and Lisbon-Madrid has also been underlined, by including them among the ten in its action plan to promote cross-border and long-distance rail passenger transport, the execution of the electrification works, installation of communications and adaptation of gauge (seven overpasses) from Salamanca to Fuentes de Oñoro, and the commissioning of 150 kilometres of high-speed train between Plasencia and Badajoz, a section that forms part of the Madrid-Lisbon connection, within the Atlantic Priority Corridor of the Trans-European Network, a crucial connection for our countries and for the European Union.