European Commission dismisses Boris Johnson's bridge to France idea

The European Commission has reacted dismissively to a suggestion by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson that a bridge should be built between Britain and France to complement the Channel Tunnel.

A spokesperson for the European Commission was asked on Monday about whether such a project would be applicable for EU funding.

“I have the feeling that this project is not there,” the spokesperson told reporters in Brussels, noting that it was not included on a list of priority “trans-European networks” drawn up by the commission.

Mr Johnson floated the idea last Thursday evening during a visit by France’s President Emmanuel Macron, arguing that it was “ridiculous” that the two economies were joined only by a railway line.

Downing Street also dismissed the project the following day, suggesting cooperation with France would be limited to “a panel of experts who will look at major projects together including infrastructure”.

The idea for a 22-mile bridge was in turn ridiculed by the UK’s chamber of shipping, which warned that “building a huge concrete structure in the middle of the world’s busiest shipping lane might come with some challenges”.

The 31-mile Channel Tunnel, completed in 1994, runs from near Folkestone in Kent to Calais and carried a 160km/h high-speed rail link. Ten million people use the Eurostar high-speed train service a year to go under the Channel, while others use the shuttle service for cars.

Rail freight also goes through the tunnel.

Direct high-speed rail destinations on the continent from London already include Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais and Marseille, with limited services to Amsterdam and potential future expansion into Germany.