THE European Parliament has adopted its preliminary position on the European Union’s (EU) next long-term budget from 2027, which highlights the importance of transport funding. In a vote on May 7, MEPs endorsed a report produced by the parliament entitled, On a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world, which calls for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to be bigger and bolder than before.
The report states that a larger, reinforced MFF is necessary to respond to EU ambitions and current challenges. It stresses that the next MFF should build on the existing dedicated funding mechanism for transport, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and calls for “much greater, directly-managed funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value”.
The report also notes that the EU remains committed to achieving net zero by 2050 and that this “requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure.”
Response
The response from the rail sector is positive. The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) welcomed the report’s focus on funding for infrastructure and rolling stock for both civilian and military use and the parliament’s drive to phase out all support for fossil fuels and other environmentally-harmful subsidies in the next MFF.
“The report makes it crystal clear that CEF must be continued and provided with adequate funding,” says CER executive director, Alberto Mazzola. “We encourage the European Commission to take up this position in the upcoming MFF proposal. This will be of essence if we want to provide, through the completion of the TEN-T network, pan-European sustainable mobility solutions to all citizens and businesses.”
