Minister-president Geert Bourgeois is pleased about the political breakthrough that has been made in the Seine–Nord Europe Canal project.
French Minister of Transport Elisabeth Borne and Minister of Budget Gérald Darmanin announced on 3 October that they will continue with the plans for the waterways infrastructure project.
Since president Macron took office, there was uncertainty about the future of the Seine-Scheldt project. The new French government decided to reconsider all planned investments in the field of mobility.
“This project is the final part of the Seine-Scheldt Project-connection, which is of great importance for Flanders and Wallonia. The Seine-Scheldt Project project is a beautiful cross-border project that fits into Flemish EU policies. This will improve the international accessibility of Flanders from its seaports to Paris. We also contribute to a ‘modal shift’ of road transport to more sustainable and safer waterways transport, "said the Minister-president.
During the last three months, the North of France exerted pressure on the French government to continue the project. This pressure was reinforced by the steps taken by Minister-president Bourgeois towards the French Prime Minister and the President of the Hauts-de-France region.
This breakthrough reaffirms the importance of Flemish investments in the Seine-Scheldt infrastructure project, which will become operational at the end of 2020.
General Representation of the Government of Flanders in France
