The two party structures met in Faro and, at the end of the meeting, announced that the communities of the Algarve and Andalusia were “united by the Faro-Huelva-Seville rail link” and that the “bilingual petition will be launched” to gather more support.

During the meeting, the PSD of the Algarve and PP of Huelva signed “a joint memorandum” that aims to launch the petition demanding “the implementation of the high-speed rail link between Faro, Huelva and Seville, together with the respective national parliaments”, informed the regional PSD in a note sent to Lusa.

“This petition reaffirms the commitment and political determination to make this rail link a reality as soon as possible. We will continue working hard until this structural project is implemented, bringing clear benefits to both communities,” said the president of the PSD of Algarve, Cristóvão Norte, quoted in the note.

The regional Social Democrat leader considered that the aspiration to have a high-speed train connection between the Spanish cities of Seville and Huelva and Faro “is not the wish of a handful, but of many” citizens on both sides of the border.

“Portugal is doing its part, the Council of Ministers ordered the preliminary studies to be carried out, but there is still a long way to go”, acknowledged Cristóvão Norte.

In addition to the president of PSD/Algarve, the meeting was attended by the president of the party's District Assembly, Mendes Bota, the district secretary, Henrique Gomes, the president of Faro City Council, Rogério Bacalhau, and the president of the Union of Parishes of Faro, Bruno Lage.

On behalf of the PP of Huelva, the president and general secretary, Manuel Andrés González and Berta Centeno, respectively, the general coordinator of relations with the Government of Andalusia, Pepe Correa, and the ‘alcaldesa’ (mayor) of Huelva, Pilar Plata, were present.

“The Faro-Huelva-Seville railway is vital for the economic, social and environmental development of our regions. We are firmly committed to this project and will be vigilant to ensure that it moves forward quickly, bringing concrete benefits to the populations on both sides of the border,” stated Manuel Andrés González, president of the PP of Huelva.

The two parties assured that they will continue “working together with the national and European authorities to ensure the financing and implementation of this railway link,” which they describe as “crucial for the sustainable and prosperous future of the Algarve and Andalusia.”