The 'popular' MEP Borja Giménez Larraz has demanded from Teruel that the Government of Spain clarify the response from the European Commission, in which possible incompatibilities of the railway project designed by the Ministry of Transport with the requirements of community regulations for the Teruel-Sagunto section were warned.
"The response from the Commission has left no room for doubt. Now a scenario full of unknowns opens up, but in which the Government of Spain will have to provide answers regarding this," the Aragonese MEP pointed out at a press conference this Friday, alongside the mayor of Teruel and provincial president of the PP, Emma Buj.
The European Regulation sets minimum standards for the lines of the basic network, including that passenger services reach speeds of at least 160 km/h within the deadlines and conditions set by the regulations.
In its response of October 16, the Commission warned that an alternative with design speeds of between 100 and 140 km/h, as outlined in the Ministry's project, could raise compatibility doubts if it is not adequately justified how it meets the required standards.
The PP calls for the Ministry's project to be rectified
For the Popular Party, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is proposing an insufficient action and they demand that the study be corrected, advocating for a double electrified line with high standards.
At the same time, the MEP has questioned the evolution of railway planning in this corridor: "It is incomprehensible that a strategic corridor for Aragon ends up becoming a bottleneck of 120 kilometers that limits the development opportunities of the province and its connection with the Mediterranean."
The 'popular' have emphasized that the ongoing works and the electrification of the line announced in the Council of Ministers last Tuesday were already included in the 2017-2022 Master Plan.
"It is devastating that they want to take pride in a project that should have been completed in 2022," emphasized the mayor of Teruel and provincial president of the PP, Emma Buj.
The European Regulation establishes December 31, 2030, as the deadline to complete the basic network of the RTE-T. The PP urges the Government to detail how it plans to comply with the requirements in the Teruel-Sagunto section within that timeline. "The necessary efforts are not being made to reach 2030," emphasized Giménez Larraz.
Alert for a possible infringement procedure and loss of funds
The MEP has warned that if the Government of Spain maintains this study without demonstrating compliance with European legislation, "an infringement procedure could be opened by the European Commission."
Borja Giménez Larraz has emphasized that, in addition to potential sanctions, "if the project does not fit within the requirements established in the EU Regulation, we run the risk of being left without European funding." For this reason, they have asked the PSOE of Aragón to get involved and pressure for the Ministry to withdraw the current study.
Both Emma Buj and Borja Giménez Larraz have reiterated the commitment of the Popular Party to continue acting at all levels so that the Government of Spain rectifies and advances a Corridor that meets the needs of Teruel and Aragón.