Support for the Iași-Chișinău-Odessa railway

27.10.2021

Question for written answer  E-004876/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Gheorghe Falcă (PPE)

The EU declared 2021 the European Year of Rail to promote more frequent use of the train, which is a safe and environmentally friendly means of transport. In this context, IDEP Moldova, in partnership with the Moldovan State Railway Company and the Moldovan Employers’ Tourism Association launched the regular Iași-Chișinău rail route on 1 November 2021.

To ensure the continuity of this regular rail route, the Odessa-Chișinău rail route needs to be synchronised with the future Iași-Chișinău route, thereby supporting regional tourism, which could in turn promote tourism among the three countries concerned.

• 1.Could the Commission extend the DiscoverEU programme so that 18-year-old young Europeans receive a train pass for the Iași-Chisinău-Odessa section of this line, bearing in mind that 2022 has been declared the year of young people?
• 2.Could the Commission, together with Romania, coordinate this aim of enhanced connectivity, given that such connectivity is a priority for the Eastern Partnership and in view of the European integration aspirations of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova?