By Martin Banks - 26th January 2010
Make no mistake, the costs are significant
Jean-Luc Vanraes
A leading Brussels politician has said that EU institutions should contribute towards the cost of their staff using public transport in the city.
Jean-Luc Vanraes told a meeting in parliament on Tuesday that such a move would encourage more eurocrats to use public transport than is otherwise the case.
Vanraes, budget minister in the Brussels regional parliament, said funds raised from such an initiative could be used to improve the city's transport network.
"In the past 20 years Belgian public administrators have taken initiatives to convince its civil servants to use public transport as part of a mobility overhaul away from cars. It has proved a huge success," he said.
"I therefore call on the EU institutions to similarly stimulate its staff to use public transport. This can be done easily by contributing towards making it free for those who choose to use it.
"I have no doubt the citizens of Brussels will applaud an initiative that will improve its air quality and reduce the number of cars on the road."
He said this was "one of many initiatives" that should be considered as part of building a "truly European and inclusive Brussels".
The minister was taking part in a debate, organised by the Ludwig von Mises Institute, on the future European role of Brussels, the self-proclaimed "capital of Europe".
He said the "European vocation and duties of Brussels" placed a "certain burden" on the city and its finances.
"The rewards are great but make no mistake, the costs are significant as well," he said.
The francophone said it was necessary for the EU and Brussels capital region to "start thinking together about how we can achieve these goals together".
He added, "It is my conviction that we have to start talking about a shared fiscal burden.
"Our purpose is to improve the lives of all the people who live and work in Brussels, so this is something that will need to be addressed in the near future."
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