On Thursday 13 April the TRAN Committee of the European Parliament took a position on the revision of the TEN-T trans-European transport network. The committee’s position includes the recognition of Bydgoszcz as a node of the TEN-T core network – this is a statutory demand of the New Amber Trail Association. The TRAN Committee adopted the final report unanimously, so this is the official position of the European Parliament.
The amendment to recognise Bydgoszcz as a node of the TEN-T core network was tabled by MEP Kosma Złotowski from the EKR. The European Commission’s original proposal of December 2021 is to keep Bydgoszcz in the comprehensive network, so in March 2022 we submitted a petition to the European Parliament to include Bydgoszcz in the core network – the petition was supported by, among others: Association of Polish Regions of the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, Special Pomeranian Economic Zone, Port of Gdynia Authority, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Assembly and Bydgoszcz City Council. The PETI Committee forwarded the petition to the TRAN Committee in February.
– Recognition of Bydgoszcz as a node of the core network opens the way for the whole logistic node to receive much more European funds – emphasises Łukasz Religa, President of the New Amber Trail – The European Parliament’s endorsement is an important milestone, but it is not yet the final success, because we still have to go through the trilogue procedure, i.e. negotiations on the final shape of the revision between the European Commission, the European Parliament and national governments (the Council of the European Union).
– I am very glad that the result of this vote is clear and beneficial for Bydgoszcz and our entire region. We managed to overcome some skepticism of the European Commission towards appeals to increase the importance of our city in the course of the Baltic-Adriatic corridor. Forecasts regarding the handling of goods indicate clearly that the terminal in Emilianów will meet the criteria set by the Commission for this type of infrastructure. It is also a natural consequence of placing the 201 railway line connecting Bydgoszcz with the port of Gdynia in the core network. The European Commission has identified the development of multimodal infrastructure as one of the priorities of the revision of the TEN-T network, and our region (where numerous railroads, roads, waterways and an airport will soon be complemented by a modern transshipment terminal) has great potential in this regard – said Kosma Złotowski after the vote.
Other demands of the association
The New Amber Trail, in addition to recognising Bydgoszcz as a node of the TEN-T core network, also postulates the inclusion of railway line 201 and ultimately the E-40 waterway in the TEN-T network, as well as the inclusion of the Bydgoszcz – Piła – Krzyż railway line, in order to connect the Bydgoszcz node with the ports in Szczecin and Świnoujście.
The original proposal of the European Commission (of December 2021) assumed line No. 201 in the core network – therefore this postulate can also be considered fulfilled.