More 'social-engineering' and lack of choice from the EU

The latest in the area of social-engineering from our masters in Brussels has just become available, news for which I just know we have all been waiting. In pursuit of their 'green fanaticism' and their wish to reduce carbon emissions, it seems that another choice that we - who hold the dubious pleasure of being EU citizens - have, is to be taken away from us.

"The EU transport commissioner, Siim Kallas, has announced a series of green transport goals including shifting the majority of flights longer than 300km to rail and phasing out the use of petrol cars in city centres by 2050."

It would appear that short-haul flights across Europe could be replaced by high-speed rail to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transport by 60% over the next 40 years.

According to the EU, Heathrow's congestion problems could be eased by cutting domestic and European flights, while demand for new runways could be suppressed by building new rail networks. The EU transport commissioner, Siim Kallas, has announced a series of green transport goals including shifting the majority of flights longer than 300km to rail and phasing out the use of petrol cars in city centres by 2050. "At Heathrow there are no new runways, but we desperately need to increase capacity and you can do this if you reduce short-haul flight connections," said Kallas.

As an aside, HS2 is most definitely not a precursor to the arrival of a Directive requiring it? Yeah, right.........

Erm, excuse me Siim, but what is this "we desperately need to increase capacity at Heathrow"? Ah, silly me! I forgot that any aspect of transport - be that road, rail, air or maritime - is a shared competence under Article 4(g) of the TFEU. 

The report continues by stating that:

"Kallas said EU countries needed to reduce the "mass need" for short journeys in petrol and diesel cars. "It is a desirable goal to phase out conventional cars," he said. However, Kallas added that mass adoption of electronic cars also posed problems because major city roads would continue to be clogged by traffic."

So we have the laughable situation whereby whilst the need to reduce the "mass need" for short journeys in petrol and diesel cars - and, alternatively, all driving electric-powered cars - it will still mean major city roads continue to be clogged by a mass of cars. Who but a politician could come up with a policy like this? 

One final thought for "The Brain of Siim" - with all the turbines that will be needed to produce the electricity for all these trains and cars, will there be any land space for the damn roads and railway tracks - or sea space for vessels to reach our shores?