Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı visited the Site Office of Halkalı – Kapıkule Railway Line Project

Head of EU Invesments Department Mr. Nedim Yeşil, Deputy Director of Directorate General for Turkish State Railways Mr. İsmail Çağlar, Head of Railway Modernisation Department Mr. Yılmaz Acar welcomed distinguished Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı and accompanying delegation at Historical Çerkezköy Railway Station.

After receiving information about Çerkezköy Train Station, which is the starting point of the project, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer and our Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı shared their views on the project. In his statement, Mr. Meyer-Landrut stated that he was happy to see where and how the project is being carried out and that he thought it would be very important to strengthen the railways, especially in terms of connecting Europe and Turkey. Mr. Meyer-Landrut said, "I believe that the project is very important in terms of achieving the targets of railways in Europe and Turkey, especially in terms of sustainability targets. This project is one of the biggest infrastructure projects supported by the European Union."

Mr. Faruk Kaymakcı stated that Turkey-EU relations have many dimensions. He stated that one of these dimensions is financial cooperation between Turkey and the EU. Mr. Kaymakçı said, "As an official candidate since 1999, Turkey has been benefiting from the EU's pre-accession financial aid funds. The project we will visit today is the most important and largest project in the financial cooperation between Turkey and the EU. Indicating that Turkey is determined to become a full member of the EU, Mr. Kaymakcı pointed out that the train lines between Halkalı and Kapıkule will be strengthened considerably thanks to the project to which the EU contributed approximately 275 million Euros. Thus, it will reach the superior standards in the Trans European Railway Network. The time will be shortened from 8.5 hours to 3-3.5 hours in cargo transportation. It will drop to 1.5 hours between Halkalı. This is a very important project. It shows that Turkey is a central country in establishing the European connection. It will connect Turkey with other European countries. It will connect with the east more quickly, so it is a very important project. In this context, I would like to thank our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and Railways. "

Following this visit the delegation had a meeting at Çerkezköy Organised Industrial Zone, where the needs of our industrialists related to transport sector were discussed and partnership opportunities under the EU Green Agenda were reviewed.

In scope of the programme the group travelled to Lüleburgaz where construction works carried out within the scope of the Halkalı – Kapıkule Railway Line Project were explained by showing photographs taken from the field. In the meeting, besides the construction works carried out in the project, information was given about the measures taken at the construction site during the Covid – 19 outbreak as well as information on pasture rehabilitation works carried out to make the poorly qualified pasturelands reusable and benefits of the project to the Thrace region were given. Following the briefing at the site office the delegation made examinations in the field and received information about ongoing construction works.