Kupka: Czech Republic is ready to join the reconstruction of transport infrastructure of Ukraine

Kupka: Czech Republic is ready to join the reconstruction of transport infrastructure of Ukraine
30/3/2023Press releases

Developing transport links between Ukraine and the European Union and rebuilding infrastructure destroyed in the war. These were the main topics of the meeting of ministers of the countries of the International Transport Forum, which took place today in Rzeszów, Poland. The Czech Republic was represented by transport minister Martin Kupka who presented Czech transport assistance to Ukraine over the past year. Minister Kupka also met with his colleagues from the UK, Sweden and Ukraine during the meeting. 

Kupka: Czech Republic is ready to join the reconstruction of transport infrastructure of Ukraine
"Russia's barbaric aggression against Ukraine has now been going on for over a year. Since day one, the Czech Republic has been helping the Ukrainians with the defence and reconstruction of their territory, including transport. We provide temporary bridges to replace the infrastructure destroyed. We participate in the transport of Ukrainian grain to world markets. Czech trams and buses are helping Ukrainian cities to renew their public transport fleet. We are ready to continue our transport assistance," says transport minister Martin Kupka.

Representatives of more than 20 countries from three continents who met at the Polish-Ukrainian border also discussed the possibilities of future renewal of transport and logistics routes connecting Ukraine with Europe and the world. "The war in Ukraine has shown us how important it is to have good transport links between EU countries and their neighbours. That is why we included Ukraine and Moldova in the system of European transport corridors in the revision of the TEN-T pan-European transport network, which we negotiated during our Czech EU Presidency" minister Kupka repeated. 

Beyond the meeting, minister Kupka also visited the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing that is a key hub for the transfer of humanitarian aid and equipment to Ukraine. "I visited the Korczowa border crossing almost exactly one year later. Last March I saw thousands of people fleeing the fury of war here. Today I witnessed the sophisticated logistics system that has enabled Ukraine receive much-needed material assistance through Solidarity Lanes," said the transport minister after his visit.
 
On the sidelines of the joint meeting, minister Kupka also met with his counterparts from Ukraine, Great Britain and Sweden. He spoke with Oleksandra Azarkhina, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, about the involvement of Czech companies in the reconstruction of road and motorway bridges damaged in the war. They also addressed the possibility of assisting with the training of Ukrainian aviation personnel. The main topic of the meeting with the British minister Mark Harper was the British experience with the construction of high-speed lines and cooperation in the field of railways. Minister Kupka also discussed the current state of negotiations on the change to the EURO 7 emission standard with Andreas Carlson, Swedish Minister of Infrastructure and Housing. 


 
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