The Algarve's position in defense of the strengthening of cross-border links with Spain, at road, rail and river level, will be included in the final recommendations to be sent to the Governments of Portugal and Spain at the most recent meeting of the Portuguese-Spanish Commission for Cross-Border Cooperation (CLECTF ), which took place yesterday, Wednesday, in Mérida.
José Apolinário, president of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Algarve), attended this meeting and some of his contributions, namely relating to communication and transport infrastructure between Portugal and Spain, are included in the set of approved recommendations, which will now be submitted to the Governments of Lisbon and Madrid, at the Iberian Summit scheduled for next October.
Of the matters discussed, the CCDR do Algarve emphasizes that, in the area of infrastructure, «the Alentejo, Algarve and Andalusia (EuroAAA) working community intends to give priority to the realization of the Alcoutim – Sanlúcar de Guadiana cross-border connection», but also to «strengthening port façade and consolidation of the Guadiana as a waterway to Mértola»
On the table is also the conclusion of the first Atlantic route belonging to the EUROVELO network (European network of cycle paths), under development in Portugal through the Litoral do Algarve Cycle Path, which will link from Sagres to Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte.
“We also highlight the defense of the connection of the trans-European Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors from Andalusia to the Algarve, using the high-speed line from Seville Airport, Huelva to the Airport of Faro and, in the future, Beja and Lisbon, through the carrying out of a Feasibility Study on the development of freight transport and intermodality on the southern rail axis», according to the CCDR.
The meeting also highlighted "the importance of the funding provided by the Operational Program for Cross-border Cooperation Spain – Portugal (POCTEP), which has already provided 484 million euros in this framework for the execution of 238 projects involving 1620 beneficiaries, in such diverse intervention areas such as innovation, combating climate change, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and training public administrations».
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