The Spanish Tourism Minister, Raquel Sánchez, has encouraged progress in transport projects of common interest to improve connections between Spain and Portugal.
During a meeting with her Portuguese counterpart, Pedro Nuno Santos, which was held last week, Minister Sánchez stressed that it is of prime importance to make changes to transport projects so that people can move more easily between the two countries, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“It is an honour for me to participate in this summit, in such a symbolic enclave between Portugal and Spain, which reinforces the urgency of advancing projects of common interest in our transport infrastructures, to make the permeability of our borders a reality,” Minister Sánchez said last week in Portugal.
Apart from meeting her Portuguese counterpart, Minister Sánchez also met with the Minister of Infrastructure of Portugal, Pedro Nuno Santos, to review the progress that has been made until now and to adopt new commitments in order to promote sustainable and accessible transport.
Shortly before meeting with Minister Santos, Sánchez said that the authorities of the two countries are working to reach agreements that would improve the cross-border connections between Spain and Portugal, and pointed out that the aim is to promote rail transport as much as possible.
“We are working to reach agreements and commitments that will improve these cross-border connections between Spain and Portugal. One of those commitments is the promotion of rail transport between both countries, in line with the European Union’s policy of promoting the railway to achieve more sustainable mobility,” Minister Sánchez.
The Minister further highlighted that Spain has given a strong boost to all cross-border connections, prioritising the Madrid-Lisbon line.
With regard to road infrastructure between Spain and Portugal, Minister Sánchez noted that they are working to expand as well as improve the connections between the two countries and highlighted that the Fuentes de Oñoro – Vilar Formoso section is already in service.
“We believe that we must act in coordination on transport decarbonisation policies, which is one of the most important challenges facing our sector,” Minister Sánchez added.
Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that Portuguese and Spanish organisations have urged the government to improve rail connections. The Iberian Alliance for Railway, which is an association of 15 Portuguese and Spanish organisations, said that the governments of these two countries should improve rail travelling.
The Alliance said that rail travelling between Spain and Portugal is the worst in recent decades and revealed that some proposals on the issue are expected to be implemented next year.
