Skip to main content

EU identifies priorities for trans-European transport network until 2030

The European Commission has published nine studies on the state of play and the development needs of the Ten-T core network corridors. The studies have identified infrastructure development needs which represent approximately US$811 billion of financial investment until 2030. They highlight the importance of optimising the use of infrastructure along the corridors, notably through intelligent transport systems, efficient management and the promotion of future-oriented clean transport solutions. This is the
January 20, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The European Commission has published nine studies on the state of play and the development needs of the Ten-T core network corridors. The studies have identified infrastructure development needs which represent approximately US$811 billion of financial investment until 2030. They highlight the importance of optimising the use of infrastructure along the corridors, notably through intelligent transport systems, efficient management and the promotion of future-oriented clean transport solutions. This is the first time that tens of thousands kilometres of rail, road, inland waterway connections, ports, airports and other transport terminals have been studied in such a comprehensive way and with a common methodology.

Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport said, "We have to step up our efforts to make sure the core network will be fully operational by 2030, to ensure smooth transport flows for passengers and goods throughout the EU. Now is the time to invest in TEN-T projects and to maximise the benefits of the Connecting Europe facility and the Commission's US$365 billion investment plan. After all, the Trans-European Transport Network is crucial for a Union striving for more growth, jobs and competitiveness. As Europe is slowly stepping out of the economic crisis, we need a connected Union, without barriers, in order for our single market to thrive."

A team of external experts undertook a comprehensive study for each Trans-European Transport corridor. They analysed the current infrastructure status, located problems hampering traffic flows for passengers and freight, and identified action to be undertaken from now to 2030. They include preliminary lists of projects which aim at completing cross-border and other missing links, removing bottlenecks, inter-connecting transport modes and enhancing interoperability – notably for railway traffic.

The results of these studies will be taken into account when deciding on the allocation of EU funds for the period 2014-2020, under the Connecting Europe facility. The project pipeline resulting from these corridor studies constitutes a particularly important source for the US$365 billion European Investment Plan, which was published by the Commission in November 2014.

Related Content

  • November 19, 2013
    EU defines nine European transport corridors
    As part of the revision of its infrastructure policies, the European Commission (EU) has defined nine corridors aimed at transforming road transport, rail connections, flights and transport by water into a uniform and efficient European network (Trans-European transport network of TEN-T). These corridors are the Adriatic Baltic Sea region, the North Sea-Baltic region, the Mediterranean region, the East and East Mediterranean region, Scandinavia-Mediterranean, Rhine-Alps, Atlantic, North Sea-Mediterranean
  • June 28, 2016
    European Commission approves funding for transport infrastructure
    The European Union has unveiled a list of 195 transport projects that will receive US$7.4 billion (€6.7 billion) of funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). This investment is expected to unlock additional public and private co-financing for a combined amount of US$11 billion (€9.6 billion). The selected projects are primarily located on the core trans-European transport network (TEN-T). Among the beneficiaries are flagship initiatives such as the rehabilitation of the Brasov Sighisoara rail s
  • October 17, 2013
    EU grants of almost US$2.2 billion for key TEN-T projects
    The European Commission has selected a total of 172 projects that will benefit from almost US$2.2 billion in EU co-financing from the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) programme for improving transport infrastructure across Europe. Eighty-nine projects selected from the 2012 multi-annual call and 83 from the 2012 annual call will use this financial support to help realise TEN-T network development – ranging from preliminary studies for new projects to top-up grants aimed to aid on-going constructi
  • November 30, 2012
    EU releases funds for key TEN-T projects
    The European Commission has launched two Calls for Proposals under the 2012 Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) multi-annual and annual programmes, making over US1.5 billion available to finance European transport infrastructure projects in all transport modes – air, rail, road, and maritime/inland waterways – plus logistics and intelligent transport systems, in all EU Member States. Commission Vice President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said: "In making this considerable amount of funding a