The European Union launches an ambitious plan to modernize the railway network and boost investment in renewable fuels.
The European Commission in Brussels has presented a package of ambitious measures to position sustainable transportation as a key pillar in the EU’s environmental transition, focusing on upgrading the high-speed rail network and enhancing investments in renewable fuels.
In an official statement, the Commission emphasized that “competitiveness and sustainability are two fundamental pillars of this plan, aimed at making the European transport system more efficient, interconnected, and cleaner.”
The Action Plan for High-Speed Rail aims to create a faster and more integrated European network by 2040, based on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The project seeks to connect capitals and major cities with speeds of at least 200 kilometers per hour, significantly reducing travel times — such as cutting the journey between Berlin and Copenhagen to just four hours instead of seven, and between Sofia and Athens to six hours instead of approximately fourteen.
The program also includes the establishment of new cross-border lines, such as the Paris-Lisbon route via Madrid, and a corridor linking the Baltic capitals, a step that will enhance regional connectivity and support economic and tourism growth in Europe.
Concurrently, the Commission approved the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP), aimed at increasing the production and use of low-carbon fuels, particularly in the aviation and maritime sectors. It is estimated that the EU will need around 20 million tons of biofuels and industrial fuels by 2035 to achieve its climate goals, an investment effort expected to reach approximately 100 billion euros.
The plan outlines the mobilization of European funding amounting to 2.9 billion euros by 2027, including 2 billion euros allocated for alternative fuels, 446 million euros for synthetic fuels, and 133 million euros for research and innovation.
Through these projects, the European Union aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel imports, enhance the competitiveness of its industries, and reinforce its position as a global leader in clean energy transition.
