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The EU’s Bet on Unity Through Infrastructure
As the EU rewrites its transport map, the revised TEN-T network promises speed, sustainability, and sovereignty—but only if member states move in unison. With which instruments? Achieving this will require coordinated investment strategies, binding deadlines, and a stronger role for the European Commission in monitoring progress.
The European Union’s bold overhaul of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) represents more than an infrastructure update—it’s a political statement about the future of European integration. With plans to connect high-speed rail, green urban mobility, and resilient freight corridors by 2040, the TEN-T vision is tightly linked to the EU’s climate ambitions and geopolitical strategy. Yet national divergences, uneven investment capacity, and a patchwork of technical standards threaten to derail the momentum. At stake is the EU’s credibility in delivering not just greener mobility, but a truly unified Europe—on tracks as well as on treaties.
By Mark Strass
Brussels, 17 April 2025 - 4 MINUTES READ
Brussels, 17 April 2025 - 4 MINUTES READ
Brussels, April 18, 2025 — The European Union is transforming the internal rules to modernize its transportation infrastructure. Last year, it revised the Regulation on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The aim is to enhance connectivity, sustainability, and resilience across the continent.
The revised TEN-T Regulation, adopted in April 2024, sets forth a strategic blueprint to integrate various modes of transport—railways, roads, inland waterways, and maritime routes—into a cohesive network. By 2040, the core and extended core networks are expected to support high-speed rail services, with passenger trains operating at speeds of at least 160 km/h. Additionally, the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) across the entire network will standardize signaling systems, enhancing safety and efficiency.
As the European Union enters a critical phase of implementing its revised Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), political questions loom large over the bloc’s ability to turn grand ambitions into concrete infrastructure.
Political Will vs. National Interests. The success of TEN-T hinges on one crucial factor: coordination among 27 member states with vastly different priorities, budgets, and existing infrastructure standards. While Brussels pushes for rail interoperability, electrification, and uniform high-speed service, national governments continue to favor internal investment agendas, especially in countries where roads remain politically more popular than rail.
Germany and France, key players in shaping European transport, support high-speed expansion but diverge on freight logistics. Eastern countries like Poland and Romania welcome EU funding, yet struggle with execution due to bureaucracy and capacity limits.
The persistent fragmentation of national rail systems threatens to undermine the TEN-T vision unless political alignment is deepened. Towards an Efficient, Borderless RailTo achieve a functional, EU-wide rail system, political momentum must translate into:
With over €600 billion needed by 2040, EU institutions are expected to leverage the Connecting Europe Facility, the Green Deal budget, and possibly new Eurobonds to close the funding gap. However, delays in national permitting and procurement procedures may stall progress unless the EU enforces tighter implementation deadlines.
The Role of Geopolitics. The inclusion of Ukraine and Moldova in the extended TEN-T corridors signals a strategic use of infrastructure for geopolitical alignment. At the same time, the formal exclusion of Russia and...
The revised TEN-T Regulation, adopted in April 2024, sets forth a strategic blueprint to integrate various modes of transport—railways, roads, inland waterways, and maritime routes—into a cohesive network. By 2040, the core and extended core networks are expected to support high-speed rail services, with passenger trains operating at speeds of at least 160 km/h. Additionally, the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) across the entire network will standardize signaling systems, enhancing safety and efficiency.
As the European Union enters a critical phase of implementing its revised Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), political questions loom large over the bloc’s ability to turn grand ambitions into concrete infrastructure.
Political Will vs. National Interests. The success of TEN-T hinges on one crucial factor: coordination among 27 member states with vastly different priorities, budgets, and existing infrastructure standards. While Brussels pushes for rail interoperability, electrification, and uniform high-speed service, national governments continue to favor internal investment agendas, especially in countries where roads remain politically more popular than rail.
Germany and France, key players in shaping European transport, support high-speed expansion but diverge on freight logistics. Eastern countries like Poland and Romania welcome EU funding, yet struggle with execution due to bureaucracy and capacity limits.
The persistent fragmentation of national rail systems threatens to undermine the TEN-T vision unless political alignment is deepened. Towards an Efficient, Borderless RailTo achieve a functional, EU-wide rail system, political momentum must translate into:
- Full adoption of ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) across all corridors
- Elimination of bottlenecks at borders and terminals
- Real investments in cross-border high-speed links, especially in Central and Eastern Europe
- A “Single European Railway Area”, where trains, services, and certifications are fully interoperable
With over €600 billion needed by 2040, EU institutions are expected to leverage the Connecting Europe Facility, the Green Deal budget, and possibly new Eurobonds to close the funding gap. However, delays in national permitting and procurement procedures may stall progress unless the EU enforces tighter implementation deadlines.
The Role of Geopolitics. The inclusion of Ukraine and Moldova in the extended TEN-T corridors signals a strategic use of infrastructure for geopolitical alignment. At the same time, the formal exclusion of Russia and...
