The EU rail sector, backed by dozens of major European transport associations, is once again calling for the EU to boost CEF to €100bn under the bloc’s next long-term budget, tying the demand directly to what it describes as a “vulnerable” transport network insufficiently adapted to dual-use needs and exposed to “natural and man-made disruptions”.
Forty-five European transport organisations, including the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), have jointly urged the EU to significantly strengthen its transport funding under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), calling for the future Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to be set at at least €100 billion. However, the clear thrust of the sector’s argument has moved to the importance of military mobility and Europe’s defence.
In an open letter addressed to General Affairs and Finance Ministers ahead of fresh budget talks, the signatories argue that European support for transport is “more pertinent than ever” considering what the EU is currently facing. Framing infrastructure as “crucial” to the bloc’s security, the letter states that “only with strong and state-of-the-art transport infrastructure at its core, will Europe be able to ramp up its resilience and military preparedness.” And only a CEF instrument that is supported with a budget of “at least €100 billion” will be able to achieve that.
Military mobility as funding driver
Citing “rising geopolitical and geo-economic tensions” alongside climate change, the signatories argue that Europe must urgently strengthen and modernise its infrastructure, remove bottlenecks and missing links, and reinforce resilience in line with TEN-T priorities, explicitly referencing the EU’s proposed Military Mobility Regulation.
The letter states that while military mobility is vital for Europe’s security and defence, EU transport infrastructure is currently “insufficiently adapted to dual-use needs and remains vulnerable to both natural and man-made disruptions”. The current geopolitical landscape, it argues, requires preparation for “just-in-case” scenarios, not only “just-in-time” logistics. That means more redundancy and buffer capacity to improve and invest in Europe’s infrastructure readiness, protection and resilience accordingly.
Commission proposal already doubles CEF
The intervention comes despite a substantial increase already proposed by the European Commission. Under its draft 2028–2034 budget, the Commission has proposed doubling CEF Transport to €51.5 billion. The package also includes €17.65 billion dedicated to military mobility — roughly ten times the current envelope — alongside broader funding windows that rail can access, including decarbonisation and innovation instruments.
Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas has framed the increase as essential for completing TEN-T and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and security. In recent remarks, he underlined the need for infrastructure capable of moving heavy military equipment rapidly, as well as support for dual-use assets. However, the transport sector argues the proposed levels remain insufficient given the scale of the challenge.
The Connecting Europe Facility, they state, has proven a “crucial” instrument for projects with high European added value, but has been “undermined by a structural and significant oversubscription of the calls in light of insufficient budget”.
“This all depends on the reliability of the infrastructure network, as witnessed by the recent reports by Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta,” the letter notes. “Our sector stands ready to deliver, but cannot do so without adequate support.” The organisations conclude that if Europe is to meet its strategic priorities, the next MFF must safeguard a CEF instrument supported with a budget of at least €100 billion: “If Europe is to succeed in its strategic priorities of a strong, resilient and competitive Union, it needs a robust European transport network providing the necessary fundament.”
