A number of European countries have signed a protocol committed to strengthening and facilitating co-operation in the development of sustainable freight and passenger transport infrastructure.
The agreement, signed by government representatives of nations in the Carpathian region, creates a framework to reduce the negative social, economic, and environmental effects of transport development and infrastructure.
Exploring the potential of alternative fuels and improving public transport are two important aspects of the new protocol, as is upgrading existing road and rail infrastructure for more efficient movement of people and goods. Urban and rural areas are both areas of focus, with signatories committing to developing appropriate infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in cities, as well as hiking trails and long-distance cycle paths to attract sustainable tourism.
The agreement was signed during a recent Carpathian Convention meeting. The Carpathian Convention is a sub-regional treaty which fosters sustainable development and environmental protection of the Carpathian region. Seven countries participate in the convention: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine
Original author: Lewis Macdonald
