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Canton of Berne
State Councillor for Public Works,
Transport and Energy Calls for
Continued Investments
Barbara Egger-Jenzer, State Councillor for Public
Works, Transport and Energy for the Canton of Berne
since 2002, emphasises that in spite of the challenges of
the global economic crisis, the canton will continue to
pursue ambitious development strategies.
Concerning energy policies, she says, “The canton’s
energy strategy must be based on an open market; the
state will intervene only when necessary. Our strategic
objective is to ensure a reliable and reasonably priced
supply of energy for the canton’s businesses and population.
A long-term perspective on energy is more
essential now than ever.”
In her role as overseer of the canton’s infrastructure
projects, Barbara Egger-Jenzer explains, “Infrastructure
is the lifeline of a modern society, and weaknesses
in transport and energy infrastructures will, sooner
or later, slow down economic growth. It is necessary,
therefore, for public authorities to make sufficient
investments in the construction, development, and
maintenance of infrastructure.”
Major infrastructure projects
Recent major infrastructure projects in the Canton
of Berne have included the upgrading of Wankdorf
Square in Bern City and a subsidy for the Bern West
tram line. The canton plans to invest an additional
€156.8 million in public transport projects by 2013,
including in a new tram line between Ostermundigen
and Koniz and in a proposed project to expand Bern’s
train station.
Concerning road construction, Barbara Egger-Jenzer
says that the Executive Council has adopted an
investment programme for the period 2009 to 2012
which has a budget of €108 million more than in the
previous period. In addition, she says that the canton
has launched a vast investment program to control
flooding, a source of problems for the past several
Barbara Egger-Jenzer, State Councillor for Public Works, Transport and
Energy for the Canton of Berne
years. Flood control measures underway will have an
added benefit of creating jobs, she stresses.
A challenge for the government is to finance such
projects at a time when a parliamentary mandate has
obliged the Executive Council to cut taxes in 2010.
Barbara Egger-Jenzer says, “The government will do
everything in its power to make sure that our planned
investment budget is not affected, but cuts are possible.
However, to economise in infrastructure will certainly
give a bad signal. Future generations would have to pay
dearly to make up for our negligence. In addition, in an
economic downturn, public authorities should not cut
their expenditures but rather maintain them at a normal
level or raise them, to support continued growth.”
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