New European directive on the combined transport of goods will boost the development of multimodal transport

stated Velik Zanchev, Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications at the opening of the conference.

Rail and port connections were discussed, focusing on the construction of intermodal terminals and adjacent infrastructure. The participants presented good examples of the overall completion of the transport corridors and the construction of missing sections.

The Bulgarian Presidency emphasised that it is essential to shift freight from road to rail, inland water and sea. By unloading road infrastructure, the negative impact of transport on the environment can be substantially reduced and greater security for people on the road will be ensured. The creation of favourable conditions for the development of multimodal transport and logistics requires the construction of modern intermodal terminals on the territory of the ports and at the points where the main transport routes are crossed, Deputy Minister Zanchev pointed out.

Further possibilities for funding for the transport infrastructure between the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans were also discussed.

Ministers and deputy ministers of transport from the countries of the Western Balkans and the European Union, as well as representatives of the Bulgarian and European institutions related to transport participated in the debate on the future of multimodal transport. The conference also included delegates from the European Commission, the World Bank, port operators, representatives of leading European transport and logistics companies and others.

The topic of multimodal transport is part of the priorities of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications within the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.