The European Union is to make investments just shy of €3bn in 94 various transport projects. The goal is to boost sustainable and connected mobility across the continent.
The European Commission will spend €2.8bn on 94 transport projects to modernise cross-border links and cut emissions. Three-quarters of the cash will flow to railways, underscoring Brussels’ push to shift freight and passengers from roads to greener alternatives. The projects, funded through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), aim to plug gaps in the EU’s core transport network while advancing climate goals.
“With nearly €2.8 billion in EU funding, we are delivering on Europe’s promise of a modern, sustainable, and resilient transport network,“ commented Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the bloc’s transport chief. “These 94 projects will not only boost cross-border connectivity and efficiency but also boost competitiveness across the continent. From Rail Baltica in the north, to shore-side electricity in our southern ports, and from secure road networks to a smarter Single European Sky—this investment is a cornerstone of our Green Deal and our geopolitical resilience.“
Railways rule
Rail dominates the spending. Cohesion countries will receive major upgrades. (The term refers to EU member states—mostly in central and eastern Europe—that receive targeted funding to reduce economic and social disparities within the bloc, as part of the EU’s cohesion policy.) Rail Baltica, a high-speed line linking the Baltics and Poland, gains a boost. Greece will modernise its Alexandroupoli-Thessaloniki line; Slovakia revamps Žilina-Košice. Czechia and Poland expand high-speed networks. Forty-six projects in 11 states, including Germany and Sweden, will install the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), standardising signals to ease cross-border travel.
Maritime projects target emissions. Ports in Ireland, Cyprus and elsewhere will fit shore-side power to slash ship pollution. Estonia, Finland and Sweden will acquire icebreakers to guard subsea cables, aligning with EU Arctic strategy. France and Spain will digitise short-sea shipping management to curb congestion. Belgium upgrades inland waterways along the Rhine.
You might be interested
Ten countries, including Germany and Romania, will build secure lorry parks. Cities secure cash for smart traffic systems to ease jams. Aviation projects under the Single European Sky initiative aim to trim delays and emissions via sharper air-traffic control.
The road ahead
Leuven, Norrköping and Nice will develop multimodal hubs blending trains, buses and bikes. Marseille and Bolzano expand cycling networks. The EU funds rail upgrades at Slovak and Romanian borders with Ukraine to ease trade, aiding Kyiv’s shift to EU rail gauges. A separate Arctic project will toughen supply routes against climate threats.
The CEF’s 2021-2027 transport budget now commits 95% of its funds. The latest grants, chosen from 258 bids, cover up to half of project costs. Since 2014, the facility has funnelled €47.3bn into 1,861 schemes, from cross-border rails to hydrogen stations. Agreements for this round should finalise by October 2025.
From Rail Baltica in the north, to shore-side electricity in our southern ports, and from secure road networks to a smarter Single European Sky—this investment is a cornerstone of our Green Deal and our geopolitical resilience. – Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism
The CEF prioritises the trans-European network’s weak spots: missing rail links, clogged ports. It also backs dual-use infrastructure for military mobility. By binding regions closer and greening transport, Brussels hopes to show voters it can deliver ahead of EU elections. But with China and America splurging on infrastructure, Europe’s bet on coherence over cash alone remains a gamble.
CEF’s major projects include
- Rail Baltica: A high-speed line linking the Baltics and Poland
- upgrades to Greece’s Alexandroupoli-Thessaloniki line and Slovakia’s Žilina-Košice corridor
- high-speed rail expansions in Czechia and Poland
- additionally, 46 projects in 11 states—including Austria, Germany, and Sweden—will deploy the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), standardizing signaling to boost safety and streamline cross-border travel.
