International political summit in Graz
Sunday, March 27, 2011
On Sunday the 27th of March, governor of Styria Franz Voves invited the Carinthian governor Gehard Dörfler and Renzo Tondo from Friuli Venezia Giulia, to the ceremonial start of the Koralmtunnel KAT2. In addition to the high politicians of the Styrian state government and ÖBB – Director Christian Kern, Cabinet Assistant Desiree Oen from the office of EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas and Herald Ruijters from the EU Commission – Move, participated in the meeting as well.
According to Dörfler, the participation in the celebration of EU experts and Renzo Tondo was a great honour and an expression of the continuous dimension far beyond Austria related to this project. “The construction of the Koralm – Railway is not only significant for Carinthia and Styria, but also on the European scale, the uniqueness of this traffic connection was recognized. At the time Jörg Haider and Waltraud Klasnic initiated this project, an enormous future potential for the south of Austria was adjudicated. As part of the Baltic Adriatic Axis and connection with the Adriatic Ports it is an important transport link for the European Union in the future”, stressed Dörfler.
Renzo Tondo informed that the Adriatic Ports planed Investments of one Billion Euro, in order to upgrade the transport connection between the Baltic and Adriatic ports. Per suchlike investments and expansions of the Adriatic Ports and after the initial start-up of the Koralm – Railway, the shipping traffic from and to Europe from the North ports, could be transferred gradual to the Adriatic Ports.
For this reason Carinthia as a strategic region, will increase the value once again and the logistic centre Villach – Fürnitz will engage an important function in the frame of this project in the future, according to Dörfler. “So this region would develop into a logistic platform for the Baltic and Adriatic area. As a result hundreds of new jobs in the sections logistic, distribution, and international commercial partnership would be provided,” said Dörfler who was looking forward to the ground-breaking ceremony. “It is a certain day and after many barriers the break through of the Koralm Railway as part of the Baltic Adriatic Axis is finally accomplished. A huge milestone for the transport project of the future is reached,” explained Dörfler.
