Canarian Weekly
24-08-2012, 11:10
EU infrastructure funding will make or break the Island THE entire future of Tenerife hangs in the balance – and a crucial European Union decision next month will make or break theIsland. At stake is a slice of the 550 billion euros in funding, set aside to be used to upgrade transport-related infrastructure – roads, ports, airports, etc – throughout EU countries, which will be available until 2020.
The Island’s D-Day is Friday, 28th September, when the EU will decide whetherTenerife is part of the Trans-European Transport Network. Inclusion will guarantee theIsland a share of the enormous fund which has been set aside for this purpose.
Thankfully, a growing movement called # TFseMueve, which is using social networking to raise public awareness about the situation, is fighting tooth and nail to persuade the EU to vote in our favour. # TFseMueve literally means getTenerifemoving, but it needs everyone’s support.
The latest to come on board the movement are football clubs CD Tenerife and CD Marino, who are showing their support in a unique way.
Tenerife’s two Second Division B teams will wear specially-made T-shirts referring to the campaign before Sunday’s noon kick-off between the sides at the Estadio Antonio Dominguez (Olympic Stadium) in Los Cristianos.
Ángeles Palmero, Antolín Goya andSantiagoSese, spokesmen for the # TFseMueve platform, are truly appreciative of the clubs’ support, presided over by Miguel Concepción and Pepe Barrios, respectively.
Santiagosaid: “We have to pass this message on to society and believe that sport in general, and football in particular, is a good vehicle to reach as many people as possible inTenerife.
“We thank both teams for their willingness to collaborate with the campaign, because if the European Union decides to exclude Tenerife from the Network, it will mean job losses, company relocations and, above all, simply living inTenerifewill cost more.”
Antolin added: “We need to maintain services, not to lose more jobs, and we need competitive ports and airports. We can not continue with a second-rate infrastructure network.
“It would have a negative impact on tourism, and it would really affect the standard of living of the people ofTenerife.”
Ángeles Palmero is also deeply concerned, saying: “We need our whole society to be responsible and join with the movement in defence of jobs and theIsland.
“We can’t wait for others to come along and help us; it has to be us, the people of Tenerife, who raise our voices to be heard inBrussels.
“Tenerifeis a strategic point with the rest of the world, and the European Union must listen to our claim.
“So come on, join the campaign by signing, via the Internet, through the website www.tfsemueve.org or at your respective Town Hall. We should all join together to putTenerifewhere it deserves to be.”
But apart the growing, popular support from the people ofTenerife, what about our politicians? The truth is that they have been working on the need to convince the EU of their sole responsibility. And as the deadline approaches, the politicians are getting busy.
Carlos Alonso, Tenerife Cabildo Vice-President and Minister of Tourism, Economics and Competitiveness, recently visitedBrusselsto present theIsland’s need to be included in the main transportation network.
Alonso presented, among other documents, the last motion for inclusion, passed unanimously by the Cabildo, as well as population data and passenger-traffic figures.
As far as statistics are concerned, Tenerife is the most populated of theCanary Islands, with more than one million people, and features the most air and maritime traffic and passengers in the entire archipelago.
Alonso said: “We are working to tell everyone of the need forTenerifeto be included in the Trans-European Transport Network. It is a vital decision for theIsland.
“We’re talking about creating jobs and avoiding an increase in the cost of living. ThePortofSanta Cruzand the airports in the North and South must be within the Trans-European Transport Network.
“They are our principal tools for growth – a fact that is even more relevant in view of the global crisis.
“Otherwise, we are doomed to an increase in the price of the products we consume every day, the price of airline tickets, and, ultimately, life.
“Losing connectivity means a drop in tourism, with the consequent damage to our economy.”
In a message toTenerifecitizens, he stressed: “In early September, we will have a round of visits to the European Parliament and we need to get our voice out there. You can help by signing a petition, either in person or online.
“It is so important to support the platform # TFseMueve because we need to get our claim toBrusselsto give us the treatment we deserve.Tenerifeis staking its future on this.”
What exactly is the Trans-European Transport Network, and why do we need to be part of it? We’ll let the EU speak for itself on this.
“Transport infrastructure is fundamental for the smooth operation of the internal market, for the mobility of persons and goods and for the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union.
“The EU 27 comprises 5.000.000km of paved roads, out of which 65.100km are motorways, 212,80km of rail-lines, out of which 110,458km are electrified, and 42,709 km of navigable inland waterways.
“Most of these transport infrastructures have been developed under national policy. In order to establish a single, multi-modal network that integrates land, sea and air transport networks throughout the Union, the European policy-makers decided to establish the trans-European transport network, allowing goods and people to circulate quickly and easily between Member States and assuring international connections.
“Establishing an efficient trans-European transport network (TEN-T) has constituted a key element in the re-launched Lisbon Strategy for competitiveness and employment in Europe, and it will play an equally central role in the attainment of the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.”
So what, specifically, is on offer?
“If Europe is to fulfil its economic and social potential, it is essential to build the missing links and remove the bottlenecks in our transport infrastructure, as well as to ensure the future sustainability of our transport networks by taking into account the energy-efficiency needs and the climate-change challenges.
“In view of the growth in traffic between Member States, expected to double by 2020, the investment required to complete and modernise a well-performing trans-European network is substantial.
“The cost of EU infrastructure development to match the demand for transport has been estimated at over 1.5 trillion euros for 2010-2030. The completion of the TEN-T network requires about 550 billion euros until 2020, out of which some 215bn euros can be referred to the removal of the main bottlenecks.
“Given the scale of the investment required, it is necessary to strengthen the co-ordination dimension of network planning and development at European level, in close collaboration with national governments.”
With so much at stake, Tenerife is taking a stand and making sure that the EU sits up and listens to the claims from such a strategically-placed Island which, literally, can provide a link between three continents: Europe, Africa and theAmericas.
To add your voice toTenerife’s growing, grass-roots movement, go to www.tfsemueve.org or # TFseMueve or your local Town Hall.
Every name registered will, hopefully, contribute towards the brightest of futures forTenerife. The alternative does not bear thinking about!
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/show-support/)
The Island’s D-Day is Friday, 28th September, when the EU will decide whetherTenerife is part of the Trans-European Transport Network. Inclusion will guarantee theIsland a share of the enormous fund which has been set aside for this purpose.
Thankfully, a growing movement called # TFseMueve, which is using social networking to raise public awareness about the situation, is fighting tooth and nail to persuade the EU to vote in our favour. # TFseMueve literally means getTenerifemoving, but it needs everyone’s support.
The latest to come on board the movement are football clubs CD Tenerife and CD Marino, who are showing their support in a unique way.
Tenerife’s two Second Division B teams will wear specially-made T-shirts referring to the campaign before Sunday’s noon kick-off between the sides at the Estadio Antonio Dominguez (Olympic Stadium) in Los Cristianos.
Ángeles Palmero, Antolín Goya andSantiagoSese, spokesmen for the # TFseMueve platform, are truly appreciative of the clubs’ support, presided over by Miguel Concepción and Pepe Barrios, respectively.
Santiagosaid: “We have to pass this message on to society and believe that sport in general, and football in particular, is a good vehicle to reach as many people as possible inTenerife.
“We thank both teams for their willingness to collaborate with the campaign, because if the European Union decides to exclude Tenerife from the Network, it will mean job losses, company relocations and, above all, simply living inTenerifewill cost more.”
Antolin added: “We need to maintain services, not to lose more jobs, and we need competitive ports and airports. We can not continue with a second-rate infrastructure network.
“It would have a negative impact on tourism, and it would really affect the standard of living of the people ofTenerife.”
Ángeles Palmero is also deeply concerned, saying: “We need our whole society to be responsible and join with the movement in defence of jobs and theIsland.
“We can’t wait for others to come along and help us; it has to be us, the people of Tenerife, who raise our voices to be heard inBrussels.
“Tenerifeis a strategic point with the rest of the world, and the European Union must listen to our claim.
“So come on, join the campaign by signing, via the Internet, through the website www.tfsemueve.org or at your respective Town Hall. We should all join together to putTenerifewhere it deserves to be.”
But apart the growing, popular support from the people ofTenerife, what about our politicians? The truth is that they have been working on the need to convince the EU of their sole responsibility. And as the deadline approaches, the politicians are getting busy.
Carlos Alonso, Tenerife Cabildo Vice-President and Minister of Tourism, Economics and Competitiveness, recently visitedBrusselsto present theIsland’s need to be included in the main transportation network.
Alonso presented, among other documents, the last motion for inclusion, passed unanimously by the Cabildo, as well as population data and passenger-traffic figures.
As far as statistics are concerned, Tenerife is the most populated of theCanary Islands, with more than one million people, and features the most air and maritime traffic and passengers in the entire archipelago.
Alonso said: “We are working to tell everyone of the need forTenerifeto be included in the Trans-European Transport Network. It is a vital decision for theIsland.
“We’re talking about creating jobs and avoiding an increase in the cost of living. ThePortofSanta Cruzand the airports in the North and South must be within the Trans-European Transport Network.
“They are our principal tools for growth – a fact that is even more relevant in view of the global crisis.
“Otherwise, we are doomed to an increase in the price of the products we consume every day, the price of airline tickets, and, ultimately, life.
“Losing connectivity means a drop in tourism, with the consequent damage to our economy.”
In a message toTenerifecitizens, he stressed: “In early September, we will have a round of visits to the European Parliament and we need to get our voice out there. You can help by signing a petition, either in person or online.
“It is so important to support the platform # TFseMueve because we need to get our claim toBrusselsto give us the treatment we deserve.Tenerifeis staking its future on this.”
What exactly is the Trans-European Transport Network, and why do we need to be part of it? We’ll let the EU speak for itself on this.
“Transport infrastructure is fundamental for the smooth operation of the internal market, for the mobility of persons and goods and for the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union.
“The EU 27 comprises 5.000.000km of paved roads, out of which 65.100km are motorways, 212,80km of rail-lines, out of which 110,458km are electrified, and 42,709 km of navigable inland waterways.
“Most of these transport infrastructures have been developed under national policy. In order to establish a single, multi-modal network that integrates land, sea and air transport networks throughout the Union, the European policy-makers decided to establish the trans-European transport network, allowing goods and people to circulate quickly and easily between Member States and assuring international connections.
“Establishing an efficient trans-European transport network (TEN-T) has constituted a key element in the re-launched Lisbon Strategy for competitiveness and employment in Europe, and it will play an equally central role in the attainment of the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.”
So what, specifically, is on offer?
“If Europe is to fulfil its economic and social potential, it is essential to build the missing links and remove the bottlenecks in our transport infrastructure, as well as to ensure the future sustainability of our transport networks by taking into account the energy-efficiency needs and the climate-change challenges.
“In view of the growth in traffic between Member States, expected to double by 2020, the investment required to complete and modernise a well-performing trans-European network is substantial.
“The cost of EU infrastructure development to match the demand for transport has been estimated at over 1.5 trillion euros for 2010-2030. The completion of the TEN-T network requires about 550 billion euros until 2020, out of which some 215bn euros can be referred to the removal of the main bottlenecks.
“Given the scale of the investment required, it is necessary to strengthen the co-ordination dimension of network planning and development at European level, in close collaboration with national governments.”
With so much at stake, Tenerife is taking a stand and making sure that the EU sits up and listens to the claims from such a strategically-placed Island which, literally, can provide a link between three continents: Europe, Africa and theAmericas.
To add your voice toTenerife’s growing, grass-roots movement, go to www.tfsemueve.org or # TFseMueve or your local Town Hall.
Every name registered will, hopefully, contribute towards the brightest of futures forTenerife. The alternative does not bear thinking about!
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/show-support/)