The Netherlands and the German province of North Rhine-Westphalia will cooperate more in the area of mobility and traffic. The aim is to improve the connection between the Dutch ports and North Rhine-Westphalia. Sustainable and smart transport and the reduction of harmful emissions will be central themes. Recently the Dutch Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen and Secretary of State Stientje van Veldhoven of Infrastructure and Public Works signed a letter of intent together with a German colleague in Düsseldorf.
Cross-border cooperation
The declaration agreed that the bottlenecks in important traffic arteries between the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia would be identified and addressed. Furthermore, the traffic centers in Utrecht and Leverkusen will cooperate more intensively when it comes to cross-border traffic management. The two governments will also work together in the field of digitization and the use of smart technologies for mobility. In addition, they are working on improving regional public transport and international train traffic between the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Mobility, transport and climate
Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen: “North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands are economically closely linked. We already work together in the area of mobility and transport, but it can always be better. We will continue to expand the cooperation in the coming years. Good transport connections, for example between our seaports and the economic centers in North Rhine-Westphalia, are important to both of us. “
Secretary of State Van Veldhoven: “A good neighbor is better than a distant friend. Addressing issues such as climate change and sustainability doesn't stop at the border, and often works better with an international perspective. And practical matters such as connecting each other's regional transport or the ticket sales of international train connections also benefit from good cooperation.”
Intergovernmental dialogue
A delegation from the Dutch government recently visited Düsseldorf for some intergovernmental dialogue, the first time such a meeting was organized. They discussed strengthening and deepening strategic cooperation in various fields, both at the national level and in the border region. Signing the letter of intent on cooperation in the field of mobility and traffic was part of that meeting.
source: RVO