As signatory no. 145, Siegfried Rupprecht has today signed a Declaration initiated by EU Vice President Siim Kallas to support the Connecting Europe Facility. Other signatories include major infrastructure owners, industry and operators of transport services from all sectors have signed a declaration calling on senior EU policymakers to support and approve the Connecting Europe Facility. The future of the Connecting Europe Facility is reaching a critical phase as Member States are expected to decide the EU’s budget for 2014-2020.
The future of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the funding instrument designed to build and complete the railways, airport links, ports, maritime transport links, energy grids, pipelines, intelligent transport systems and broadband networks that are essential for Europe, is being decided now, with EU's 2014-2020 budget negotiations entering a crucial phase. On 22 November 2012 Heads of State and Government will meet in a special summit in Brussels to decide on the next multiannual EU budget. A lot is at stake, including the proposal to allocate €50 billion to the CEF to trigger investment in the key European transport, energy and digital networks essential for growth. As we approach the November summit, CEOs from 17 of Europe's leading businesses - from Grimaldi to Pirelli, Maersk and Ericsson - have signed a declaration underlining the need for Europe to "connect to compete" and calling on Heads of State and Government to support the Connecting Europe Facility. The declaration is online and is open to everyone (businesses as well as simple citizens) to show their support!+49 221 6060 55 0
