EU Funding Mechanism Needed for Transport Infrastructure to ensure European
resilience

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is one of the key enablers for the  development of the EU's internal market. By connecting the European cities,  ports, airports, and logistics centers, the TEN-T network supports Europe's  economic growth and regional development. The TEN-T network, as the pan European lifeline, also contributes to European competitiveness and enhances resilience and military mobility of the Member States, and European Union as a  whole. 

The completion of the TEN-T network still requires significant investments. The  total investment needs over the next fifteen years are 845 billion euros. During  the past years, the EU's direct funding, especially the Connecting European Facility (CEF), has been a key tool in implementing important projects. Without  significant EU funding, the development of European transport networks is not  possible. 

The EU is currently preparing for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) starting in 2028. The EU budget structure is being reformed, and infrastructure  funding along with it.  

The Finnish business associations have a clear joint message for the  upcoming EU budget negotiations. The associations underline the need for  an EU level transport infrastructure funding instrument. The funding criteria  should be updated to focus on the strategic level to ensure the added value  of projects across Europe. Funding priorities should be set to strengthen  international connections, to invest in the transport infrastructure on core  network corridors and to support projects that have a clear impact on competitiveness, resilience and military mobility. During the next MFF period, with the help of EU funding, progress is expected across the entire  three-level TEN-T network.

The dedicated EU funding mechanism for transport is vital for Europe's  resilience, trade and tourism. This is of utmost importance to peripheral Member  States like Finland, that secure EU's and NATO's external borders. Developing  connections between the Member States and building a transport network that  supports Europe's prosperity and resilience should be on the common agenda of  the European Union.