Latest news with #TEN-T
Euractiv
01-08-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Why Europe's Green Deal rail dream isn't turning into reality
Once touted as the bloc's best bet for clean cross-continental transport, Europe's railway network hasn't improved much over the last few years. As the EU aims for climate neutrality by 2050, the European Green Deal sets out a clear path to cut emissions across all sectors – especially transport, which makes up about a quarter of the EU's total. Rail, which accounts for less than 1% of transport emissions, was supposed to be the future: clean, efficient, and continental. Deploying trains to cut back on emissions was the aim of Europe's rail plan, with goals including doubling high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and tripling it by 2050. Crumbling infrastructure, high fares, and fragmented governance have turned what should be the backbone of green mobility into a symbol of political stagnation and missed opportunity. A civilian failure In theory, the EU's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) was supposed to create a sleek, high-speed rail network that would connect cities and rural areas while cutting emissions – making it an ideal alternative to flying. But in practice, Europe's grand rail vision hasn't taken off yet - and fragmentation is the main culprit. Every country runs its own system, with different rules, timetables, and ticketing platforms – turning cross-border trips into a jigsaw puzzle for consumers. A journey from Brussels to Budapest might mean booking on multiple websites, long layovers, and no easy way to plan it. And then there's the price tag: while budget airlines often offer cross-border flights for under €50, rail fares frequently way exceed double the price for the same route. While countries like France and Spain show off their high-speed TGV and AVE lines, they rarely connect across borders – and in Eastern Europe, the situation's even worse. In Romania, for example, intercity trains now run slower than they did in the 1980s due to poor infrastructure. Despite heavy public investment – like the allocated TEN-T's €60 billion in co-funded rail, road, and port projects since 2014 – passengers continue to face high fares, poor connectivity, and sluggish travel times, making flying cheaper and faster in many cases. A defence liability With the continuation of the war in Ukraine and rising defence budgets across the continent, there is a growing concern over the ability to move troops, heavy armour, and supplies across Europe quickly and efficiently. A 2025 report from the European Court of Auditors confirmed what many already feared: that military mobility progress has been slow and uncoordinated . Of the 500 identified priority projects, only a handful have begun construction. In early 2024, a NATO exercise involving the rapid deployment of tanks from Germany to Romania was delayed by more than a week due to outdated bridges that couldn't support the weight, military convoys missing customs clearances, and a lack of compatible rail cars. Just like commuters, modern militaries runs on railways too, and as it stands, Europe's train network just isn't fast enough to keep up. (jp)
Fibre2Fashion
23-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
EU allocates $3.27 bn to 94 transport projects under CEF
The European Commission has allocated nearly €2.8 billion (~$3.27 billion) in EU grants to 94 transport projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). This investment will focus on modernising railways, inland waterways, and maritime routes across the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), enhancing connectivity and competitiveness within the EU. The European Commission has allocated €2.8 billion (~$3.27 billion) in grants to 94 transport projects under CEF. The funding will modernise railways, waterways, and maritime routes, focusing on sustainability and resilience. Key projects include Rail Baltica, high-speed rail in Czechia and Poland, and enhanced road safety and air traffic management. Selection will be formalised by October 2025. Rail transport will receive the largest share, with 77 per cent of the total funding directed towards infrastructure upgrades, including Rail Baltica in the Baltic region, high-speed rail development in Czechia and Poland, and the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) across 11 Member States, European Commission said in a release. Maritime and inland waterway projects will focus on reducing emissions and improving resilience, including the installation of shore-side electricity at ports and digital traffic management systems. Additional investments will enhance road safety, air traffic management, urban mobility, and bolster transport links to Ukraine. The projects are expected to improve regional trade, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and contribute to the EU's green transition. The Commission will formalise the selection by October 2025. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
News18
17-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Modi's Balkan Masterstroke: How Bharat Redefined Europe's Power Map In Zagreb
Last Updated: The warm reception in Zagreb, as Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković welcomed Modi as the leader of a resurgent global power, set the tone for the visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his tour de force in Europe and across the pond, culminating in a historic visit to Zagreb. Via the visit, Modi has redrawn the geopolitical map, forging a powerful new era with a relationship with Croatia. The visit was a successful and powerful declaration of Bharat's arrival as a global rule-maker. The warm reception in Zagreb, as Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković welcomed Modi as the leader of a resurgent global power, set the tone for the visit. This was the crowning achievement of a historic tour that saw the Prime Minister command the world stage: He reaffirmed deep civilisational bonds with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, securing an unequivocal ally in the Eastern Mediterranean. He engaged in a frank and forthright discussion at the G7 summit in Canada, making it clear that the Global South would no longer be a silent spectator. He held a pivotal meeting with the President of the European Council, where onlookers noted the palpable shift in dynamic—Europe was listening to India, not the other way around. A Gateway to Europe's Core Croatia's geographic position on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea offers India a vital maritime gateway to Central and Eastern Europe. The country's major ports—Rijeka, Split, and Ploce—are not peripheral outlets but integral components of the European Union's core Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The key pronouncements highlight that Croatia is a 'critical link" in this new trade chain, serving as a distribution hub for goods destined for the heart of Europe. This alignment positions Croatia as a key partner in a powerful repudiation of China's creeping influence in the Balkan. Beyond the steady growth in bilateral trade, which stood at a modest USD 337.68 million in 2023, the visit saw Modi extend a golden invitation to Croatian companies to participate in the revolutionary Sagarmala project. The initiative, focused on port modernisation and coastal development, opens vast opportunities for Croatian maritime expertise and technology, creating a synergistic relationship that links India's domestic infrastructure ambitions with Croatia's established strengths. Strategic Partnership in Defence and Technology In the defence and high-technology sectors, the bilateral talks have moved the India-Croatia relationship resolutely into the strategic domain. The decision to formulate a long-term Defence Cooperation Plan elevates the partnership beyond simple military exchanges. The explicit focus on joint defence production and industry-level partnerships signifies a deep-seated trust and a shared vision for co-development, building upon the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed in 2023. The strategic alignment extends to critical technology sectors that are central to India's future economic growth and national security. The leadership have identified specific new areas for enhanced cooperation, including pharmaceuticals, information technology, clean and digital technologies, renewable energy, and, most notably, semiconductors. A standout announcement was the plan for India to share its space expertise with Croatia, marking a new frontier in bilateral cooperation. It reflects India's growing capabilities as a major space-faring nation and its willingness to collaborate with trusted partners on advanced technology. Such an initiative not only opens avenues for joint ventures but also cements a high-technology alliance that is forward-looking and strategically significant. A Reliable Voice within European Institutions As a full member of both the European Union and NATO, Croatia provides India with indirect access and a valuable, friendly voice within two of the world's most influential political and security blocs. This diplomatic leverage is particularly crucial for advancing India's interests on complex issues that require consensus-building, chief among them being the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). During the visit, Croatia reiterated its 'strong support for the early conclusion of the FTA." Croatia's consistent backing provides India with a reliable advocate in a forum where geopolitical and regulatory hurdles have often stalled negotiations. This support is rooted in a shared understanding of the mutual benefits the agreement would bring, which will help strengthen supply chain resilience for both India and the wider European Union. Furthermore, Croatia has consistently backed India's bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council and, critically, maintained a non-interventionist stance on sensitive internal. A Red Line Drawn on Global Terror For too long, India has had to endure the sanctimonious lectures and hypocritical double standards of Western nations on the issue of terrorism. In Zagreb, Prime Minister Modi put an end to it again. Referencing the recent, horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack, he thanked Croatia for its unwavering and immediate solidarity—a stark contrast to the selective, mealy-mouthed condemnations that often emanated from other Western capitals. He drew a clear red line that left no room for ambiguity. 'There are no 'good terrorists' and 'bad terrorists'," Modi declared. 'Terrorism is the sworn enemy of humanity. Any nation that provides safe havens, funding, or ideological justification to its perpetrators will find itself on the wrong side of history. Bharat will not tolerate it, and the world should not either." It is a much-needed reality check for those who conveniently categorise terror to suit their geopolitical agendas. The message was clear: India's security is non-negotiable, and its friends are those who stand with it unequivocally in this fight. The message from Zagreb is unambiguous, and it couldn't have come at a better time, especially as old alliances fray and global institutions falter. The days of a unipolar or bipolar world are ending soon. A new, confident, and unshakeable pole has risen, and its name is Bharat. The world would do well to listen. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. tags : croatia pm narendra modi view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 20, 2025, 11:47 IST News opinion Modi's Balkan Masterstroke: How Bharat Redefined Europe's Power Map In Zagreb Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Corridors of Opportunity: Europe and Africa Pave the Way Together
Paul Riembault | Published 3 hours ago Transport corridors are among the most powerful engines for economic transformation. In Europe, every euro invested in the continent's Trans-European Transport Network has been estimated to return four euros in GDP. The same – or even greater - potential exists in Africa – if investments are focused and coordinated. That's according to Paul Riembault of the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) at the European Commission. Speaking at the 43rd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) on 10 July, Riembault explored how Africa could leverage the European Union's long and complex corridor development experience. He encouraged African institutions, planners and financiers to continue their coordinated approach to corridor development – and to consider Europe's successes as well as challenges in transforming fragmented infrastructure into the backbone of a thriving single market. 'Transport corridors are not just about roads and rails,' Riembault told delegates. 'They're about unlocking integration, intra-African trade, and regional prosperity.' What sets Europe's TEN-T model apart is its data-driven, criteria-based approach. Corridors are not selected arbitrarily or through purely political negotiation. Instead, they are based on criteria or even hard data: e.g. ports handling more than 33 million tonnes of freight annually – corresponding to 1% of total EU freight -, cities with over one million inhabitants, capital cities and strategic industrial zones. These 'core nodes' anchor each multimodal corridor. 'In a Union of 27 Member States, it's natural that national interests may diverge,' Riembault said. 'Hence, a strong common framework serves as protection against shifting political priorities and pet projects ' Currently, TEN-T consists of nine multimodal corridors, supported by harmonised regulations in road safety, rail electrification, axle loads, rail signalling systems, and even ticketing interoperability. Infrastructure is just one layer – governance, standardisation and financing form the others. 'Without harmonisation, corridors become patchworks. We learned that the hard way in Europe. Interoperability should start from day one.' Riembault outlined Europe's difficult past – a continent once divided by war, incompatible rail gauges, and isolated national railway systems. 'Europe's map was built to divide, not connect,' he noted. But from the wreckage of conflict came the political will to unite, and with that will came the need for infrastructure that reflected integration. Corridors in Europe, he explained, were not the starting point but the outcome of political alignment. The EU's single market project created the demand for connectivity, and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) emerged to meet that demand. Riembault's presentation also highlighted how the EU is applying the approach of concentrating investment through the Global Gateway initiative – the EU's global investment strategy, which prioritises energy, digital and transport infrastructure. Through Global Gateway, the EU has identified a shortlist of African corridors – aligned with African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Community (REC) priorities – where it is focusing its transport funding between 2021 and 2027. 'The goal is not to duplicate Africa's frameworks like the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) or the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),' he said. 'The goal is to support them strategically and at scale.' More than €1.5 billion (about R30 billion) in grants have already been earmarked to African corridor development under the Global Gateway initiative, with many projects supported through blended financing that combines EU grants with loans and private capital. Among the flagship investments is the Maputo–Walvis Bay rail corridor, where upgrades in Mozambique are set to significantly boost freight capacity. In Dakar, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has been rolled out, featuring over 120 electric buses and dedicated lanes to enhance urban mobility and reduce emissions. Meanwhile, in Lagos, the OMI EKO water transport project should improve connectivity along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor by expanding ferry services and infrastructure to better serve the region's rapidly growing population. In addition to physical infrastructure, the EU is funding soft measures such as trade facilitation, customs reform, axle load regulations, and corridor governance frameworks. The session, which brought together representatives and experts from the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, the United Nations, the World Bank, and German cooperation, concluded with a vibrant discussion around a central question: Is it time to develop a more robust, African continental framework for corridor development? This would not replace existing initiatives, but rather add a layer of consistency – shared criteria, common standards, and cross-border monitoring. 'Africa doesn't need to copy Europe,' Riembault said. 'But it can draw on key lessons that fit its context' The EU, he added, stands ready to support African partners in shaping corridors that are modern, multimodal and resilient. 'This is Africa's corridor moment, the continent can transform transport corridors into economic lifelines,' he concluded. Paul Riembault from the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Corridors of Opportunity: Europe and Africa Pave the Way Together
Transport corridors are among the most powerful engines for economic transformation. Image: Supplied Transport corridors are among the most powerful engines for economic transformation. In Europe, every euro invested in the continent's Trans-European Transport Network has been estimated to return four euros in GDP. The same – or even greater - potential exists in Africa – if investments are focused and coordinated. That's according to Paul Riembault of the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) at the European Commission. Speaking at the 43rd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) on 10 July, Riembault explored how Africa could leverage the European Union's long and complex corridor development experience. He encouraged African institutions, planners and financiers to continue their coordinated approach to corridor development – and to consider Europe's successes as well as challenges in transforming fragmented infrastructure into the backbone of a thriving single market. 'Transport corridors are not just about roads and rails,' Riembault told delegates. 'They're about unlocking integration, intra-African trade, and regional prosperity.' A criteria-based approach to planning What sets Europe's TEN-T model apart is its data-driven, criteria-based approach. Corridors are not selected arbitrarily or through purely political negotiation. Instead, they are based on criteria or even hard data: e.g. ports handling more than 33 million tonnes of freight annually – corresponding to 1% of total EU freight -, cities with over one million inhabitants, capital cities and strategic industrial zones. These 'core nodes' anchor each multimodal corridor. 'In a Union of 27 Member States, it's natural that national interests may diverge,' Riembault said. 'Hence, a strong common framework serves as protection against shifting political priorities and pet projects ' Currently, TEN-T consists of nine multimodal corridors, supported by harmonised regulations in road safety, rail electrification, axle loads, rail signalling systems, and even ticketing interoperability. Infrastructure is just one layer – governance, standardisation and financing form the others. 'Without harmonisation, corridors become patchworks. We learned that the hard way in Europe. Interoperability should start from day one.' From fragmentation to connectivity Riembault outlined Europe's difficult past – a continent once divided by war, incompatible rail gauges, and isolated national railway systems. 'Europe's map was built to divide, not connect,' he noted. But from the wreckage of conflict came the political will to unite, and with that will came the need for infrastructure that reflected integration. Corridors in Europe, he explained, were not the starting point but the outcome of political alignment. The EU's single market project created the demand for connectivity, and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) emerged to meet that demand. Global Gateway: Investment approach in Africa Riembault's presentation also highlighted how the EU is applying the approach of concentrating investment through the Global Gateway initiative – the EU's global investment strategy, which prioritises energy, digital and transport infrastructure. Through Global Gateway, the EU has identified a shortlist of African corridors – aligned with African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Community (REC) priorities – where it is focusing its transport funding between 2021 and 2027. 'The goal is not to duplicate Africa's frameworks like the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) or the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),' he said. 'The goal is to support them strategically and at scale.' More than €1.5 billion (about R30 billion) in grants have already been earmarked to African corridor development under the Global Gateway initiative, with many projects supported through blended financing that combines EU grants with loans and private capital. Among the flagship investments is the Maputo–Walvis Bay rail corridor, where upgrades in Mozambique are set to significantly boost freight capacity. In Dakar, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has been rolled out, featuring over 120 electric buses and dedicated lanes to enhance urban mobility and reduce emissions. Meanwhile, in Lagos, the OMI EKO water transport project should improve connectivity along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor by expanding ferry services and infrastructure to better serve the region's rapidly growing population. In addition to physical infrastructure, the EU is funding soft measures such as trade facilitation, customs reform, axle load regulations, and corridor governance frameworks. A call for a common framework The session, which brought together representatives and experts from the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, the United Nations, the World Bank, and German cooperation, concluded with a vibrant discussion around a central question: Is it time to develop a more robust, African continental framework for corridor development? This would not replace existing initiatives, but rather add a layer of consistency – shared criteria, common standards, and cross-border monitoring. 'Africa doesn't need to copy Europe,' Riembault said. 'But it can draw on key lessons that fit its context' The EU, he added, stands ready to support African partners in shaping corridors that are modern, multimodal and resilient. 'This is Africa's corridor moment, the continent can transform transport corridors into economic lifelines,' he concluded. Paul Riembault from the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships
