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REPORT (COM(2021)0812 – C90472/2021 – 2021/0420(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 and Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) 1315/2013

A-9-2023-0147

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Barbara Thaler, Dominique Riquet

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal for a regulation on guidelines for developing the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). It keeps the three-layer network with completion deadlines of 2030, 2040 and 2050, and adds requirements on rail, ERTMS, alternative fuels, urban nodes, maintenance and resilience. It sets rail standards: electrification, minimum speeds, 740 m freight trains, ERTMS deployment by 2040 and decommissioning of class B systems, and a digital cross-border capacity booking system by 2025. It requires Member States to maintain infrastructure, make maintenance a condition for Connecting Europe Facility funding, and assess climate and environmental vulnerability of critical infrastructure. It strengthens rules on urban nodes, including sustainable urban mobility plans, data collection and a multimodal freight terminal by 2040, and makes Union funding for urban node projects conditional on adopting such plans. It addresses the new geopolitical context: cutting TEN-T links with Russia and Belarus, extending corridors to Ukraine and Moldova, boosting military mobility and dual-use infrastructure, and screening third-country participation in projects.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism proposes to amend the Commission proposal to strengthen infrastructure standards, limit exemptions, reinforce maintenance, resilience, military mobility and governance, and adapt cooperation with third countries to the new geopolitical context.

Key points

  1. The network keeps three layers: core by 2030, extended core by 2040 and comprehensive by 2050, with completion of the core network given priority.
  2. Rail freight lines must allow at least 50% of train paths for freight trains of at least 740 m on double track lines, aligned for cross-border operations.
  3. Rail infrastructure must be electrified and meet minimum speeds: 100 km/h for freight on core and extended core lines, and 160 km/h for passenger trains on core lines.
  4. ERTMS must be deployed on the whole network by 31 December 2040, synchronised between trackside and onboard, and class B systems decommissioned by 2040.
  5. A digital capacity management system for booking cross-border train paths must be developed by 31 December 2025 and deployed on corridors and core networks by 31 December 2027.
  6. Member States must maintain infrastructure to the same level of service and safety, and compliance with maintenance requirements is a precondition for Connecting Europe Facility funding.
  7. Member States must carry out a climate and environmental vulnerability test of critical transport infrastructure by 31 December 2025 and adopt adaptation measures by 31 December 2029.
  8. Urban nodes must adopt sustainable urban mobility plans, collect and submit urban mobility data yearly, and develop at least one multimodal freight terminal by 31 December 2040.
  9. From 1 January 2026, Union funding for urban node projects is conditional on the adoption of sustainable urban mobility plans.
  10. TEN-T links with Russia and Belarus are discontinued, with cross-border connections downgraded from core to comprehensive network, while corridors are extended to Ukraine and Moldova.
  11. Member States must assess the need for dual-use infrastructure for military transport, and the Commission must study short-notice large-scale military movements within one year.
  12. Member States must notify the Commission of projects involving third-country persons or undertakings, and the Commission may issue decisions to prohibit participation that affects security or public order.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must meet infrastructure standards, deadlines, maintenance and reporting obligations.
  • Railway undertakings and infrastructure managers, affected by ERTMS deployment, capacity booking and maintenance rules.
  • Urban nodes, which must adopt sustainable urban mobility plans and collect mobility data.
  • Third-country persons and undertakings investing in TEN-T projects, subject to notification and screening.
  • Ports, airports and multimodal terminals, which must meet connectivity and alternative fuels requirements.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2030, 2040 and 2050: deadlines for completing the core, extended core and comprehensive networks.
  • 31 December 2040: deadline for equipping the whole network with ERTMS.
  • 31 December 2025: deadline for developing a digital cross-border train path booking system.
  • 31 December 2027: deadline for deploying the digital capacity management system on corridors and core networks.
  • 31 December 2025: deadline for assessing climate and environmental vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
  • 31 December 2029: deadline for adopting adaptation measures for critical infrastructure.
  • 31 December 2040: deadline for developing at least one multimodal freight terminal in or near urban nodes.
  • 1 January 2026: date from which Union funding for urban node projects is conditional on sustainable urban mobility plans.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 172 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.