22 February 2021

Dear Minister Djebbari, Dear Secretary of State Shapps, Dear Commissioner Vălean

We hope you are keeping well in these difficult times.

We are writing to you today concerning the future of rail connectivity between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. The past year has been very difficult for people and businesses whose lives have been turned upside down by Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns. Transport operators have been severely impacted by the crisis and are struggling financially given the huge fall in demand for travel.

The situation of the rail operator Eurostar is no different. It has been reported that it has seen a 95% drop in its passenger traffic. While we note that talks between the UK and French governments about possible assistance are ongoing, the matter remains unresolved. The future of rail travel across the Channel is at stake if no solution is found. This would not only negatively impact economies on both sides of the Channel and lead to significant job losses, it would also seriously undermine efforts to make transport more sustainable in Europe. Rail travel is much more sustainable than air travel, and it is crucial that we service more and more short-haul journeys via this mode. The survival of the Eurostar company and rail connectivity across the Channel is in the interests of both the EU and the UK. We cannot turn a blind eye to the difficulties facing the company and note that many airline companies have already benefitted from significant financial aid.

We therefore wish to urge both sides to find a quick resolution to the matter so that we save a crucial transport link between the EU and the UK, save jobs and help promote a more sustainable form of travel between both jurisdictions.

Kind regards

Ciarán Cuffe, Greens/EFA Member Alice Kuhnke, Greens/EFA Member Alviina Alametsä, Greens/EFA Member , Member Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, Greens/EFA Member Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, House of Lords Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, House of Lords Barry Andrews, Renew Member , Greens/EFA Member

Benoît Biteau, Greens/EFA Member , Renew Member , Greens/EFA Member Chiara Gemma, Non-Aligned Member , Greens/EFA Member Damien Carême, Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , Renew Member Dorien Rookmaker, Non-Aligned Member Elżbieta Katarzyna, Łukacijewska, EPP Member , Renew Member François Alfonsi, Greens/EFA Member Grace O’Sullivan, Greens/EFA Member Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , Renew Member , Greens/EFA Member István Ujhelyi, S&D Member, , Greens/EFA Member Juozas Olekas, S&D Member , Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member Kateřina Konečná, The Left Member Kira Peter-Hansen, Greens/EFA Member Leila Chaibi, The Left Member Ljudmila Novak, EPP Member , Greens/EFA Member Maria Carvalho, EPP Member Maria Spyraki, EPP Member Maria Walsh, EPP Member Marian-Jean Marinescu, EPP Member , Greens/EFA Member , Non-Aligned Member Micha Bloss, Greens/EFA Member Michal Wiezik, EPP Member Michèle Rivasi, Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , Renew Member Pär Holmgren, Greens/EFA Member Pascal Arimont, EPP Member Radosław Sikorski, EPP Member

Rasmus Andresen, Greens/EFA Member Rosa d’Amato, Greens/EFA Member Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member Tom Vandenkendelaere, EPP Member , S&D Member Ville Niinistö, Greens/EFA Member , Greens/EFA Member , The Left Member