European Parliament Approves Measures to Complete TEN-T Corridor

The European Parliament on April 24 approved measures aimed at completing major transportation projects in the EU by 2030. They concern roads, railways, bridges, and tunnels, a set of works aimed at eliminating bottlenecks in trans-European communication.

The Trans-European Transport Projects (TEN-T) include a number of works, including the Baltica railroad, which will connect Helsinki and Warsaw, the Brenner tunnel, which will improve round-trip passenger and freight traffic between Italy and Austria, and the Lisbon-Madrid high-speed train. Some other projects may receive funding in the near future, notably the bridge across the Strait of Messina between Calabria and Sicily in Italy.

“These major transportation infrastructure projects in the TEN-T core network will need to be completed by the end of 2030 to ensure the operation of a comprehensive network by the end of 2050. To accelerate projects, the interim deadline will be 2040,” reads the document, approved by 565 votes. At the same time, 37 MEPs opposed and 29 abstained.

“The regulation will allow rail transport to compete with road transport if everything works out as planned,” commented Austrian MEP Barbara Thaler of the European People’s Party. “The European Commission is now obliged to ensure that member states comply with their obligations by putting the necessary pressure on them if they fail to act accordingly.”

The goal is that by the end of 2030, all railroads in the TEN-T core network will be electrified and able to carry freight at 100 km/h. At the same time, crossing EU’s internal borders should take 25 minutes, and the goal is to reach a minimum passenger speed of 160 km/h by 2040. Projects to strengthen rail infrastructure and promote its use as an alternative to road transport also include connecting major European airports to the rail line. However, infrastructure projects with Russia and Belarus have been put on hold, with plans to strengthen ties with Ukraine and Moldova.

“The new rules will improve the productivity, accessibility, security, and resilience of infrastructure, which is a key element of our sovereignty,” explained French MEP Dominique Riquet of the liberal Renew group. “They will also help encourage Europeans to travel and make our economy more competitive.”