The need to increase EU funding to alleviate traffic congestion in places like Marsa was highlighted by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi during a bilateral meeting with Trans-European Network (Ten-T) coordinator Pat Cox, in the Estonian capital Tallin.

The Transport Minister referred to the traffic junction near the Addolorata Cemetery, remarking that the problem is no longer limited to the peak hours but also to other times of the day.

Mr Mizzi said that recent experience had demonstrated that traffic incidents on Malta’s Ten-T core network may lead to nationwide disruptions in transport services.

This may also affect passengers travelling by air and impact negatively on the economy, such in those cases when freight operators miss vital lifeline ferry services to mainland Europe.

The Transport Minister also made the case to improve the connection by sea with nearby Italy. Mr Mizzi also participated in the TEN-T Days 2013 ministerial conference, chaired by European Commission vice-president Siim Kallas.

While expressing Malta’s full commitment towards developing and finalising its core Ten-T network before 2030, the Transport Minister said plans were being drafted for better traffic management.

“Malta, being a small island state on the southernmost periphery of Europe, depends heavily on the strength of its transport connections, both internally and externally,” Mr Mizzi said.

He said welcomed the agreement on the guidelines for the development of the Ten-T network, as its strengthening was an important step in the facilitation the transport of passengers and goods across Europe and to the rest of the world.