The Czech-Polish Transport Memorandum will help better connect the two countries3/6/2022|Press releasesAccelerating and improving road and rail links between the Czech Republic and Poland and the cooperation between the two countries on making the Odra river navigable. This was not the only topic discussed in Prague by Transport Minister Martin Kupka and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Adamczyk. Both ministers also signed a memorandum on the development of transport links between Polish seaports and the Czech Republic. "The development of our relationships in transport is very dynamic and we can observe the gradual implementation of the largest projects that will improve transport links between the two countries. We will continue to support each other and share our practices," said the Transport Minister Martin Kupka. In the Memorandum the two parties are in favour of deepening mutual economic relations through greater use of the Polish seaports of Szczecin, Swinoujscie, Gdańsk and Gdynia. This shall also be facilitated by improving the infrastructure leading to these ports. The text also mentions the improvement of international rail links as the main mode of land transport and improvement of navigation on the Odra river. Both sides welcome cooperation in the modernisation and construction of transport infrastructure, which will contribute to the development of multi-modal transport, the reduction of energy consumption and the achievement of climate goals, in particular thanks to the development of the rail network. The Czech and Polish ministers also discussed the routing of the high-speed rail line between Prague and Wrocław. From the Czech perspective, the development of this link is a priority not only for international cooperation between the V4 countries, but also, among other things, for the framework of the Three Seas Initiative, because it creates a natural complement to transport connectivity between the north and the south. Feasibility studies are currently being prepared on the Czech side and the border section from Hradec Králové is being studied in more detail. Intensive cooperation is expected on the mutual coordination of the feasibility study for this high-speed link or on the preparation of a new contract for a cross-border high-speed rail section between Ostrava and Katowice. During the ongoing revision of the TEN-T network, the Czech Republic is, with the strong support of the Liberec Region, asking for the inclusion of the railway link Prague – Lysá nad Labem – Mladá Boleslav – Liberec – Závidov – Zhořelec in the so-called global layer. The Ministers agreed to organise expert consultations on the future of this rail section. "This link would offer a fast connection between Prague and Liberec, a positive impact on the development of the Mladá Boleslav region and better connections to the northern Polish port areas," the minister told his Polish counterpart. Regarding road transport, the two ministers discussed the connection of the D11 and S3 roads, which is currently the most important cross-border road infrastructure project with Poland. They also discussed cooperation on the Odra river. The Czech Republic and Poland have a common interest in the inclusion of the Odra waterway in the pan-European TEN-T network. They also want to extend the navigability of Odra from Poland to the territory of the Moravian-Silesian Region. The Czech Presidency of the EU Council was also a topic of discussion.