The President of the Andalusian Government, Juanma Moreno, and the President of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, have signed a new protocol on railway transport infrastructure, logistics, and intermodality at the Government of Aragon headquarters in Zaragoza, updating the one signed in 2022. As a result, there will be a monitoring commission composed of representatives from both communities who will meet to evaluate the progress of the projects outlined in this protocol.
Moreno, who has made an institutional visit to Zaragoza, stated that this protocol originated in 2017 between the then governments of Aragon and Andalusia, and now this commitment is being renewed with objectives including the acceleration of the implementation of the Algeciras-Zaragoza Rail Motorway and other railway projects, as well as the essential reactivation of the Central Pyrenees Crossing.
«This protocol speaks of mobility and connectivity because it translates into progress, development, and advancement for society,» he added.
In this regard, he explained that the Algeciras-Madrid-Zaragoza Rail Motorway covers over a thousand kilometers of track and will connect the Port of Algeciras with the Zaragoza Plaza terminal, serving as a link between Europe and Morocco. This, he said, will be a crucial boost to intermodality, allowing the linking of logistics chains with European railway routes and ensuring transport sustainability.
Furthermore, he stated that the effectiveness of this railway corridor and its connection with the rest of Europe and the Trans-European Transport Network requires additional connection through the Central Pyrenees Crossing, a link that breaks the border effect of the Pyrenees, giving it undeniable European added value. «Both governments agree that these infrastructures are a backbone of the logistics chains,» he added.
The Andalusian President emphasized that both the rail motorway and the Pyrenees crossing link will have a significant impact on both communities, generating more employment, progress, and advancement.
In this context, he indicated that the Algeciras-Zaragoza Rail Motorway should have been in service in 2024 and noted that the Ministry has only recently started works on some sections in Andalusia, leading one to think that it could be discussed in 2027.
«It is important for Andalusia and Aragon to keep alive our timely and fair demands because transport infrastructures are now a decisive factor for the economic prospects of our autonomous communities. No territory can compete if it is not well connected.»
Likewise, he stressed the need to develop the entire Trans-European Transport Network, while stating that both communities will continue to demand that the Spanish Government decisively address this network and the Mediterranean and Atlantic railway corridors. A transport design that, as he highlighted, not only involves connecting strategic points in both territories but also the future of a logistics network in Andalusia and Aragon with enormous growth potential.
Moreno stated that meetings like this serve to collaborate, cooperate, and push in the same direction, weaving a network of complicity among different territories and sectors of society to understand that this Rail Motorway is key not only for the progress of Spain but also for Europe.
From left to right, Rocío Díaz, Juanma Moreno, Jorge Azcón, and Octavio López.
«It is not just an objective of the Andalusian and Aragonese Governments. It is the objective of a country that transcends our interests. What we want is to structure and unify Spain’s competitive capacity, benefiting two key territories like these.»
On another note, he referred to autonomous financing and lamented that the current Minister of Finance, who was then a councilor in Andalusia, defended the opposite of what she now advocates, showing no willingness to bring this issue to the CPFF or the communities and failing to do anything to solve one of Spain’s major problems because, as he emphasized, «the communities are responsible for providing services that are fundamental rights.»
Regarding debt forgiveness, he pointed out that Andalusia does not have a debt problem but a financing one, and he stated that the proposal is a tasteless joke compared to the problems faced by the autonomous communities.
The President of the Junta conversing with the President of the Government of Aragon.
«The proof that debt forgiveness is not useful for us is that three weeks ago we went to the markets and for one billion euros that we had offered, 120 investments from 20 different countries were presented. The interest paid by the markets is similar to what the Public Treasury offers. What need do we have for debt forgiveness when we have no debt and the interest rates are overwhelmingly favorable?» he questioned.
Also present at the event were the Minister of Development, Territorial Articulation, and Housing of the Junta de Andalucía, Rocío Díaz, and the Minister of Development, Housing, Logistics, and Territorial Cohesion of the Government of Aragon, Octavio López.
«The proof that debt forgiveness is not useful for us is that three weeks ago we went to the markets and for one billion euros that we had offered, 120 investments from 20 different countries were presented. The interest paid by the markets is similar to what the Public Treasury offers. What need do we have for debt forgiveness when we have no debt and the interest rates are overwhelmingly favorable?» he questioned.
Also present at the event were the Minister of Development, Territorial Articulation, and Housing of the Junta de Andalucía, Rocío Díaz, and the Minister of Development, Housing, Logistics, and Territorial Cohesion of the Government of Aragon, Octavio López.