Connecting Europe through high-speed rail
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 20 October 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- ✓ Referred to committee 22 January 2026
- ✓ Committee work Report adopted 5 October 2026
- ✓ Tabled for plenary 8 October 2026
- ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 20 October 2026
- ✓ Parliament’s position Final
How a file moves through Parliament
A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The adopted resolution is Parliament’s final position; it is not itself law.
Who is working on it
- Lead committee
- TRAN — Transport and Tourism
- Rapporteur
- Vicent MARZÀ IBÁÑEZ Verts/ALE
- Shadow rapporteurs
- Sophia KIRCHER PPEŞtefan MUŞOIU S&DJana NAGYOVÁ PfEKosma ZŁOTOWSKI ECRAna VASCONCELOS RenewArash SAEIDI The Left
The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.
The text, version by version
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament: The only change of substance removes the 'polluter pays' principle from the call for fair and efficient competition across transport modes. The other changes are formal: decimal separators are aligned and footnote markers and a regulation number are corrected or removed. see the changes →
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary: The new version adds many paragraphs on financing, including the multiannual financial framework, the Connecting Europe Facility, cohesion policy, Emissions Trading System revenues and innovative mechanisms. It adds provisions on interoperability and the European Union Agency for Railways, the European Rail Traffic Management System, common standards, rolling stock market access and train driver certification. It adds text on industrial strategy, procurement, supply chains, workforce skills and cooperation with neighbouring countries, and replaces the binding modal-shift targets with EU objectives and a 2040 objective. It adds text on intermodal hubs, ticketing, fares, passenger rights, bicycle carriage, night trains and project evaluation, and changes the criterion for which urban areas the network must serve. The other changes are formal: the list of recipients of the resolution is extended. see the changes →
Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.
Timeline
- Plenary stage
- 20 October 2026 Plenary voteAdopted Adopted by an overwhelming majorityFor 558 Against 23 Abstained 73
Final vote on the motion for a resolution at 13:29 · 85% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →
- 8 October 2026 Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
- Committee stage
- 5 October 2026 Committee vote: report adopted
TRAN (Transport and Tourism) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
- 5 June 2026 Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in TRAN (Transport and Tourism). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
- 22 January 2026 Referred to the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.