Yuriko Backes, Minister for Mobility and Public Works, took part in the informal meeting of Transport Ministers in Brussels on 3 and 4 April 2024, as part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
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Group photo
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Group photo
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(fr. l. to r.) Yuriko Backes, Minister for Mobility and Public Works; Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Mobility of the Kingdom of Belgium.
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(fr. l. to .r) Andreas Carlson, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing of the Kingdom of Sweden; Yuriko Backes, Minister for Mobility and Public Works.
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(fr. l. to r.) Yuriko Backes, Minister for Mobility and Public Works; Patrice Vergriete, Minister attached to the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, with responsibility for Transport of the French Republic.
"This meeting provided an important opportunity to discuss in detail the fundamental challenges of mobility in Europe, including the ecological transition, energy security and the reduction of carbon emissions", commented Yuriko Backes.
In a first discussion session, the ministers focused on active mobility and cycling. Minister Backes stressed the importance of measures to ensure safety and accessibility for cyclists: "We need to ensure that cycling is a safe and accessible option for everyone, including children, women and people living in rural areas."
To demonstrate the common commitment to improving cycling infrastructure and promoting cycling-friendly policies in Europe, the 'European Declaration on Cycling' was signed in the margins of the meetings by the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission. This declaration - initiated several years ago by Luxembourg - underlines our commitment at European level to promoting cycling as a preferred means of transport", emphasised Yuriko Backes. "It aims not only to improve the quality of life of citizens and further reduce carbon emissions, but also to stimulate the economy by creating jobs and promoting innovation in the cycling sector. In Luxembourg, I am fully committed to developing cycling infrastructure in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainable progress for our community".
European rail connectivity was also on the agenda. The ministers stressed the importance of international trains as an environmentally-friendly alternative to more polluting modes of transport. Yuriko Backes stressed the need to develop a European rail network compatible with all current specifications. If conditions permit in the future, Luxembourg would like to join the night train network as soon as possible", she said.
Ministers also discussed policies to make transport infrastructures more resilient in the face of climate change. With the forthcoming entry into force of the regulation on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), Europe has acquired a planning tool for the implementation of multimodal, interoperable and sustainable transport infrastructures. In the presence of representatives of third countries, in particular the Ukrainian Minister of Transport, the Assembly reiterated its support for the Ukrainian people and concluded that military mobility must be further integrated into the development of TEN-T.
Alongside the meetings, Minister Backes held bilateral discussions with her new French counterpart, Patrice Vergriete, Minister Delegate for Transport, and the Swedish Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson, among others. "Collaboration and the exchange of experience at European level are fundamental to shaping tomorrow's mobility in a sustainable and efficient way", she concluded.
Press release by the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works