Europe’s transport sector joins forces in an open letter to the EU Member States: A competitive and resilient Europe requires a stronger EU transport budget
05 February 2025
45 European transport organisations have joined forces and are collectively urging national governments and the European Commission to maintain and strengthen a robust dedicated European transport funding instrument under the future EU budget.
With the upcoming discussions on the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF), the 45 transport organisations underline that the European coordination and implementation of infrastructure across Europe is more than ever crucial. It is the only guarantee for safeguarding the smooth functioning of the EU internal market and is instrumental to enhancing Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and military preparedness – the key EU priorities for the coming years. The Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta reports reaffirm this as a crucial policy priority, underscoring how a well-functioning European transport network is essential to drive economic growth, job creation and cohesion in Europe.
Europe’s transport sector is therefore very concerned about the Commission’s plans to redirect a large part of the European transport funding towards National Single Plans. In the run up to the informal General Affairs Council taking place in Warsaw in two weeks, Europe’s transport sector in an open letter is asking the General Affairs and Finance Ministers to give a strong signal towards the Commission in favour of preserving a solid dedicated European transport funding instrument under the next MFF. Such an approach ensures that the European budget prioritises investments of high European added value and safeguards a much needed long-term strategic and stable investment planning.
Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO): “It is time we sound the alarm. Transport infrastructure is the backbone of Europe’s internal market and is fundamental in achieving Europe’s key priorities. In deliberations on the future EU budget, we are collectively asking the national governments and the European Commission to preserve and further strengthen the European transport budget to support the transport investments that are needed to keep Europe’s economy and society moving and to build the stronger, more resilient and competitive Europe we need. Ports in Europe are pillars of economic, climate and geopolitical resilience. To play this important role for Europe, they need Europe to support them. This is to the benefit of each of the Member States.”
The open letter to the EU Member States, with the full list of signatories, can be found here.
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