Towards a more interconnected Europe – Provisional agreement reached for a more sustainable and resilient TEN-T network

A political agreement has been reached on the 18 December 2023 on the Regulation underpinning the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). This steps up efforts to build a sustainable and resilient TEN-T network, with strong incentives incorporated to increase the use of more sustainable forms of transport, as well as to improve multimodality, or combining transport modes throughout a single journey.

The revised TEN-T Regulation is part of the European Green Deal, the EU’s long term strategy to make the EU climate neutral by 2050.

Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean commented “Europe needs a transport network that addresses the mobility concerns of our citizens and businesses, both sustainable and resilient, and that builds a bridge with our neighbours, in particular Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans. We are now equipped to complete that network”.

In particular, the revised TEN-T Regulation will set mandatory targets including:

• All of the 431 major cities along the TEN-T network will have to develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in order to promote zero and low emission mobility.
• Trains will be allowed to travel on passenger railway lines on the TEN-T core and extended network at 160km/h or faster by 2040.
• Secure and safe parking areas will be developed on average every 150km on the core and extended road network on the TEN-T by 2040, an integral aspect of ensuring safe working conditions for professional drivers.
• The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is to be rolled out on the entire TEN-T network to make rail safer and more efficient. As a consequence, national legacy ‘class B’ systems are to be progressively decommissioned.
• To improve connectivity and accessibility for passengers, while at the same time strengthening the competitiveness of rail, major airports handling 12 million passengers or more annually will have to be connected to long-distance rail.
• More freight will be shifted to sustainable transport modes, with handling capacity at freight terminals set to improve, while the number of transhipment terminals will also be obliged to develop in line with current and expected traffic flows and needs of the sector.
• The maritime space will also be more efficiently integrated with other transport modes. Short sea shipping routes will be upgraded and maritime ports will be further developed.

In addition, transport links with neighbouring third countries will be improved by integrating Ukraine, Moldova as well as the six Western Balkan partners into the newly established European Transport Corridors.

Once the process of formally adopting this political agreement is completed by the European Parliament and the Council, the Official Journal of the European Union will publish the new rules which will enter into force 20 days later.

The launch of the new TEN-T network and its nine new European Transport Corridors will be a key theme at Connecting Europe Days in Brussels from 2 to 5 April 2024, Europe’s flagship mobility event.

Author: Dearbhla Mullin

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.