CER says EU funding for railway investments needs more ambition and predictability. CER is the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies. It represents rail operators and infrastructure managers across Europe. In addition, it welcomed the European Parliament’s position on the European Union’s next multiannual budget. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
€100B Infrastructure Demand: European Rail Sector Challenges New EU Budget
CER’s response follows the Parliament’s adoption of an interim report on the multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034. Also, according to the organization, the Parliament sent an important signal to the EU Council. That signal comes as Europe’s competitiveness and resilience are tied to long-term infrastructure investment.
CER calls for a bigger and more predictable EU budget
The association welcomed the Parliament’s call for a larger future European budget. It also welcomed the call to allocate a sufficient share to predictable, forward-looking investment.
Also, CER said this predictability is essential for transport. Major infrastructure schemes have long planning and execution cycles.
CEF and Horizon Europe remain central to rail funding
In addition, CER supported the Parliament’s backing for stronger European funding instruments. These include the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Horizon Europe.
CER noted the transport sector’s position: the CEF should amount to at least 100 billion EUR. This level, CER said, is needed to address Europe’s strategic infrastructure needs.
At the same time, CER insisted that European funding tools need better coordination. The CEF may continue to focus mainly on cross-border infrastructure. If that focus remains, other parts of the transport network must receive coherent support. That support must come through other instruments. For example, these include national and regional partnership plans and the future European Competitiveness Fund.
CER says rail should stay high on the agenda
CER stressed that a fully interoperable and digitized rail system is becoming more important. The reason, CER said, is Europe’s need for high-capacity, energy-efficient mobility. CER linked that need to industrial competitiveness, regional cohesion and crisis preparedness.
In addition, CER connected this argument with the future European high-speed network. It also pointed to better integration with local networks. In CER’s view, that integration can expand citizens’ access to opportunities. Those opportunities are offered by the European single market.
Also, the association said rail investment is among the most effective ways to cut transport oil use. That link makes the issue directly relevant to Europe’s energy security.
Concern over the future European Competitiveness Fund
CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola welcomed the investment approach put forward by the European Parliament. Still, he warned about concerning signals. These are already appearing in legislative files connected with the future budget.
For example, Mazzola said this is visible in discussions on the European Competitiveness Fund in particular. Some MEPs seem to be downplaying the importance of rail investments.
CER’s position is that solutions for a better-connected Europe already exist, with rail among them. At the same time, the organization said delivering results will require stable funding. In addition, it said a consistent level of ambition is needed across all EU budget instruments.
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