The European Commission’s draft for the 2028–2034 CEF budget, published on 16 July 2025, outlines a total of EUR 45.7 billion for transport. Of this, EUR 30 billion would be allocated to civil transport projects, while EUR 15.7 billion would be directed towards dual-use infrastructure with military mobility applications. Compared to the current budget, funding for civil transport would fall by EUR 1 billion, while the military mobility share would rise sharply from EUR 2 billion to EUR 15.7 billion.
The joint statement highlights persistent bottlenecks across the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), especially at cross-border sections, urban nodes, and multimodal terminals. These are considered key areas for improving both freight and passenger flows, as well as for supporting the EU’s defence logistics.
The associations are asking EU Member States and the European Parliament to scale up funding for rail, particularly for cross-border projects and those with dual-use potential. Areas identified as priority include ERTMS deployment, high-speed rail connections, and terminals supporting combined transport.
The statement has been signed by AERRL, ALLRAIL, CER, CT4EU, EIM, ERFA, UIP, UITP, UIRR, and UNIFE.
