Governor of Burgenland province Hans Niessl and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Minister of State for Economic Diplomacy Levente Magyar signed a Declaration of Intent on cross-border transport development projects between Hungary and Burgenland on Wednesday in Budapest.
The Declaration determines the new road links to be established, but only draft studies will be prepared on the development of rail links. The projects are also important as considerable funding opportunities are available for cross-border infrastructure development during the EU financing period leading up to 2020, Hans Niessl said at the signing ceremony.
From among the programmes completed so far, the province chief highlighted the water supply cooperation between Sopron and Northern-Burgenland and that Hungarian fire-fighters are receiving training on the other side of the border. Cross-border infrastructure development facilitates the development of the local economy and within that, the development of tourism, Governor Niessl added, also outlining possible rail links.
According to this proposal, the electrification of the Sopron-Szombathely-Szentgotthárd line would also be continued in Burgenland. It must be examined whether it is worth restoring the rail link between Felsőőr and Szombathely, he added. The Governor of Burgenland also considered important the improvement of the water regulation of Lake Fertő via the renewal of Canal 1, as well as the further development of cycle paths in the region. Levente Magyar briefed the press on the concrete road development projects in question, adding that these were cheaper than the establishment of new rail connections.
The number of road connections will increase from 29 to 40, meaning there will be a border crossing point every ten kilometres along the Hungarian-Austrian border. This is equivalent to the Western European average, the Minister of State added. Three new motorway links will also be established on the border: the M8, M85 and M87 motorways will be connected to ones on the Austrian side of the border.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade