François de Canson: "In 2025, the Region will protect municipal investment"
On Friday, November 8, Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Partnership with Territories and Decentralisation, was in the Var to meet...
Thus, in Saint-Raphaël, she participated in the Rencontres de l'Avenir. Her speech on the theme: "The French and the future, between fear and hopes" undoubtedly helped brighten a horizon too often depicted today as a dead end. Then, in Le Muy, she met with the staff of the Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours (SDIS) and took stock of the management of the floods of the weekend of October 25 to 27.
Catherine Vautrin then visited the site of the private estate of Canebières in Le Muy, where she took the time, during this special period, to greet the firefighters, the volunteers of the CCFF, and others involved in civil protection, in the wake of floods that could have had much more tragic outcomes. Addressing Catherine Vautrin, François de Canson, vice-president of the Région Sud, announced: "We have activated our post-natural disaster climate change adaptation fund in order to support the most affected municipalities and actors."
Then at the port of Toulon, the minister discussed port issues with the elected officials of the Métropole. She notably addressed the question of the port's electrification with the president of the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Var and talked with port agents, before visiting the CENAQ (Connexion Électrique des Navires À Quai) building located at the Gare Maritime de Toulon.
SIMPLIFICATION AND COMMON SENSE Then, the regional official stated: "I know you are committed to a battle that does you credit: that of simplification, rationalization, and common sense. In the matter of floods, you have a perfect case! Help us accelerate the delivery of PAPIs!
How can we explain to our populations, sometimes scarred by the loss of a relative or a neighbour in our floods, that through a compounding of texts, through the creation of new regulatory agencies, we find ourselves taking 10 years and sometimes more to initiate the first structural works? Not to mention the millions in extra costs related to redone studies and the risks of losing funding... It is inexplicable, none of our fellow citizens can accept it."
In Toulon, the minister got to know the port, a plural port that represents the historical and heritage identity of the Toulon territory. But it is also its social and economic heart. Thus, the naval base alone is the leading employer in the Var with 15,000 sailors, and 20,000 personnel including civilians, representing 12% of the active population at the metropolitan level.
The overlapping of several ports and several realities gives this area a unique strength in France, but also certain vulnerabilities when it comes to managing by limiting conflicts of use and finding synergies between yellow boats, grey boats, 'pointus', refitted yachts, water shuttles, and oyster beds... Certainly, Toulon is the leading military port in Europe, and 70% of the French military fleet is based there. But it is also the leading scientific port in Europe.
Ifremer celebrated its 40th anniversary on October 24. It also hosts Predict, Thales, Naval Group, etc. It is also a marina. Finally, it is a commercial port, between Marseille and Nice, with future challenges being played out in the short term, accounting for 2,150 jobs and over 500 million in turnover.
PROTECTING THE INVESTMENTS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES "The Region has invested more than ‑10 million in recent years to support the rehabilitation of the rail link connecting the commercial port of Brégaillon to the La Seyne-sur-Mer station, or for the funding of the 'Escales Zéro Fumée' project and the electrification of ferry berths (8.8 million) with the support of the European Cohesion Fund. The Region will continue to support the commercial port, the CCI du Var, the Métropole, and the Ville de Toulon," pointed out François de Canson.
He added: "Madam Minister, allow me to convey the will of many of these actors, and thank you to Prefect Mahé for his consistency on the subject. The specific nature of this port calls for special attention from the State and requires finding the necessary support mechanisms. This does not mean spending more, but using what exists, allowing ourselves to consider the funding of this port through the CPERs, and reflecting on the investments through the 9 billion announced by Minister Lecornu for the naval base."
Finally, addressing the elected officials in particular, the vice-president of the Region concluded: "You all know the budgetary demands affecting our major local public institutions. Despite everything, the decision has been made to protect municipal investment. TPM benefited from 308 million in direct aid from 2017 to 2022, and the 410 million planned until 2028 will not be cut."
Photos PRESSE AGENCE.