EC rules out Russian rail link that bypasses Poland
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
17.10.2013 12:22
The European Commissioner for Transport has ruled out EU funding for Russia's planned cargo rail link between China and Vienna.
Photo: sxc
The extension of the so-called Eurasian Land Bridge would have bypassed Poland, and Polish National Railways (PKP) had lobbied against the project in Brussels.
“How can you ask European tax-payers to finance the important investments of a country that's outside the EU?” European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas told Polish Radio on Monday.
At a conference held by Russian Railways in Sochi in May 2012, an EC delegation had appeared more open to the project.
Russia had been hoping for EU investment, highlighting advantages over freight services by air or sea.
The new line would have used the broad gauge tracks that are the norm in Russia and across the Soviet Union.
“I cannot imagine that Europe would finance this,” Kallas stressed on Monday. (nh)