Seven Conservative MEPs from across East Anglia and the Midlands have challenged the European Commission over its refusal of funding for a scheme which would have helped to shift millions of tons of freight from road to rail.However, the bid was rejected as failing to offer sufficient “added value” at a European level, despite an earlier assessment by European Commission officials that it offered a “highly positive economic result and a clear leverage effect of EU funding”.
The MEPs, including Vicky Ford, David Campbell-Bannerman and Geoffrey Van Orden from the East of England, have now written Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, calling for the scheme to be approved when it is eligible to be resubmitted in six months’ time.
Their letter expresses particular concern that, as applied, the rules appear to favour schemes spanning land frontiers and to put the UK at a disadvantage.
Mrs Ford said: “We are not asking for special treatment, just a fair recognition of the UK’s unique position as an island nation.”
She added: “We hope this is just a miscalculation or a misjudgment that can soon be reconsidered. Getting such massive volumes of freight off our busy roads and on to the railways has to make sense.
“British taxpayers help fund the EU budget; we should get our fair share back.”
Mrs Ford said: “We are not asking for special treatment, just a fair recognition of the UK’s unique position as an island nation.”
She added: “We hope this is just a miscalculation or a misjudgment that can soon be reconsidered. Getting such massive volumes of freight off our busy roads and on to the railways has to make sense.
“British taxpayers help fund the EU budget; we should get our fair share back.”
The route has previously received EU support for schemes including additional cranes for rail freight at the Port of Felixstowe and the new “chord” rail line in Ipswich which avoids the need for container trains between Felixstowe and the Midlands to reverse.
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- To me this type of situation is exactly why we need to withdraw from the EU !.... we want to use our own money to invest in our Transport Infrastructure !..... not keep being answerable to the EU.....whom have not even balanced their books for years !... Anyone whom has travelled in Mainland Europe recently will have seen the investment those countries have made....while we are falling years behind.....but still a main contributor to the EU Budget !...