On the Lyon-Turin construction site, Attal praises “Europe in action” and attacks “the Greens”

The Prime Minister went to Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis (Savoie) on Tuesday morning, to the construction site of the Lyon-Turin base tunnel. 57,5 kilometers long, which represents 165 kilometers of galleries to be dug, 37 of which have already been dug, it must be commissioned in 2032.

Mr. Attal spoke of a “major project” which “provides a concrete, clear and tangible response to a certain number of questions that run through our society”, starting with “the compatibility between the ecological transition and economic activity”.

This project "will make it possible to avoid the circulation of millions of freight trucks" between France and Italy while currently, "out of 44 million tonnes per year, 92% circulate via trucks: that means emissions of CO2, traffic jams, nuisance for the inhabitants of Maurienne", he argued.

“I do not understand those who call themselves ecologists and who oppose this project since this project is ecology in action, it is less CO2 emissions,” added the head of government, in saying he believes “very deeply” that the project is “supported” by “all convinced environmentalists”.

“We can be an ecologist without being among the Greens, fortunately; without being a degrowther, without being against major projects which, ultimately, allow us to improve the environment but also economic activity,” he added. tackle.

This project “is Europe in action, because this project probably could not have seen the light of day without the European Union which finances almost half” of its cost, the Prime Minister recalled.

The Lyon-Turin project aims to increase rail freight across the Alps, with a connection which should cover a total of 150 km of tracks in France and 60 km in Italy. Its cost, constantly increasing since its launch thirty years ago, has been estimated at more than 26 billion euros in 2021.

Its opponents denounce a “pharaonic” and “harmful” project for the environment, its supporters assure that it will participate in decarbonization by removing more than a million trucks from the roads in favor of rail.

Mr. Attal paid tribute to an engineer who died in early May on this site, the third death linked to the construction site since July 2023.