UNIFE, the European Railway Industry Association, and CER, the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies, issued a joint declaration on measures to further develop rail transport in the European Union. The organizations noted that the industry employs approximately 3 million people and contributes €247 billion to the EU’s GDP, underscoring the sector’s strategic importance to the region’s economy and sustainability.
Among the key priorities, UNIFE and CER identified the need to increase funding for projects to develop the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and other EU instruments during the 2028-2034 budget period. Particular emphasis was placed on investments in rail infrastructure to strengthen the EU’s defense capability, as well as on developing a specific program for expanding the high-speed rail network based on the European Commission’s conceptual plan presented in November 2025.
Furthermore, the organizations called for accelerating and synchronizing the implementation of digital rail modernization systems across the EU, revising existing plans and securing financial support from national governments and the European Commission. The declaration also emphasized the need to expand the activities of the Europe’s Rail partnership, coordinating its projects with TEN-T and national network investment programs, and simplifying EU public procurement procedures to remove bureaucratic barriers that slow down the implementation of infrastructure projects.