The European Union (EU) has pledged financial support to Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine's national railway company, to advance the development of its railway infrastructure and integration with the EU. The funding will be provided through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), a financial instrument aimed at improving cross-border connections and fostering European integration. Launched in 2014, the CEF plays a key role in supporting the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) development and promoting connectivity and cooperation across Europe.
Yevhen Liashchenko, Chairman of the Board of JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia", expressed Ukraine's commitment to integrating its railway infrastructure into the EU and highlighted the importance of systematic support from international partners and financial institutions. This historic EU funding will help accelerate the implementation of railway projects in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the modernization of border crossings with Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
The funding will specifically contribute to the development of the Yagodyn-Dorohusk and Mostyska II-Medyka border crossing points with Poland. In addition, the Chop-Cherná nad Tisou/Záhony border crossing, linking Ukraine with Slovakia and Hungary, will undergo substantial development, including the construction of an intermodal terminal and related infrastructure at the Chop station.
"Cooperation with the CEF is a new tool for Ukraine and the railway. During the first participation in the funding competition, we submitted an application with our neighbouring countries, and therefore the emphasis was placed on the development of our western crossings with the EU countries. The next project submission will take place in September this year, and we will identify and propose projects for investment to the EU. We plan to develop the TEN-T railway corridors with a 1435 mm European gauge to develop freight and passenger traffic with the European Union," said Oleh Yakovenko, Director of the Strategy and Transformation Department of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia.
