Letter Concerning the Future of Eurostar
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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 Anja Hazekamp, The Left 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 Bas Eickhout, Greens/EFA Member Benoît Biteau, Greens/EFA Member Billy Kelleher, Renew Member Caroline Roose, Greens/EFA Member Chiara Gemma, Non-Aligned Member Claude Gruffat, Greens/EFA Member Damien Carême, Greens/EFA Member Daniel Freund, Greens/EFA Member David Cormand, Greens/EFA Member Dominique Riquet, Renew Member Dorien Rookmaker, Non-Aligned Member Elżbieta Katarzyna, Łukacijewska, EPP Member Fabienne Keller, Renew Member François Alfonsi, Greens/EFA Member Grace O’Sullivan, Greens/EFA Member Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, Greens/EFA Member Hannah Neumann, Greens/EFA Member Henrike Hahn, Greens/EFA Member Hilde Vautmans, Renew Member Ignazio Corrao, Greens/EFA Member István Ujhelyi, S&D Member, Jakop Dalunde, Greens/EFA Member Juozas Olekas, S&D Member Jutta Paulus, Greens/EFA Member Karima Delli, Greens/EFA Member Kateřina Konečná, The Left Member Kira Peter-Hansen, Greens/EFA Member Leila Chaibi, The Left Member Ljudmila Novak, EPP Member Margrete Auken, Greens/EFA Member Maria Carvalho, EPP Member Maria Spyraki, EPP Member Maria Walsh, EPP Member Marian-Jean Marinescu, EPP Member Marie Toussaint, Greens/EFA Member Mario Furore, Non-Aligned Member Micha Bloss, Greens/EFA Member Michal Wiezik, EPP Member Michèle Rivasi, Greens/EFA Member Mounir Satouri, Greens/EFA Member Nathalie Loiseau, 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 Salima Yenbou Greens/EFA Member Sara Matthieu, Greens/EFA Member Terry Reintke, Greens/EFA Member Tilly Metz, Greens/EFA Member Tom Vandenkendelaere, EPP Member Vera Tax, S&D Member Ville Niinistö, Greens/EFA Member Yannick Jadot, Greens/EFA Member Younous Omarjee, The Left Member .