Minister-president wants to activate Iron Rhine

  • October 23, 2014

"The Iron Rhine was discussed on 13 October during my meeting with Prime Minister Mark Rutte" Geert Bourgeois on 21 October informed the foreign policy committee of the Flemish Parliament. He replied to a question by MP Ward Kennes about his first foreign mission to The Hague. The Iron Rhine is a former rail link between Antwerp and the German Ruhr which has fallen into disuse.

"I actually suggested, responding to an idea that lives with the Port Authority in Antwerp, that the Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia and ourselves make a joint study in which all aspects will be analysed, and that a joint task force might be established. This proposal was well received."

Minister-president Bourgeois will soon raise the issue at his meeting with Hannelore Kraft, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, where the Iron Rhine enjoys a lot of support.

Furthermore, Minister Ben Weyts has a meeting with his colleague, Michael Groschek, Minister for Public Works and Mobility in North Rhine-Westphalia. "The aim is to speed up this dossier" stressed Geert Bourgeois yet.