Baltic ministers: 1st phase of Rail Baltic will be completed by end-2030

TALLINN - In a joint statement made in Vilnius on Tuesday, Estonian Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis, Latvian Minister of Transport Atis Švinka, and Lithuanian Minister of Transport Eugenijus Sabutis affirmed the countries' continued commitment to the goal of completing the first phase of Rail Baltic by the end of 2030.

The ministers emphasized in their joint statement that stable and sufficient European Union co-financing is paramount for cross-border infrastructure projects of this scale. It is especially important that the next multiannual European Union budgetary framework ensures sufficient support for the sustainable financing of cross-border railway projects like Rail Baltic, and that high co-financing rates are maintained, the ministers said.

The ministers pointed out that the current financing system, based on annual application rounds, does not provide the long-term funding certainty required for the project and could slow down the pace of construction. Such large-scale infrastructure projects require stable and predictable funding throughout their duration.

"Rail Baltic is a strategically important infrastructure project for the entire Baltic region. It will connect us to the European rail network and strengthen both economic development and regional security," Estonia's Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis said. "Today, all three countries reaffirmed their firm commitment to completing the project by 2030. This requires a focus on building the main line and continued support from the European Union."

The strategic importance of Rail Baltic was also emphasized in relation to European defense and security policy.

"Given today's security situation, it is clear that we need infrastructure enabling rapid and efficient military mobility. Rail Baltic will play a central role in ensuring the movement of allied forces and equipment on NATO's eastern flank," the Estonian minister stated. The ministers called on the European Commission and member states to find solutions to better support projects that meet both military and civilian infrastructure needs.

The three ministers issued the joint statement ahead of the Nordic and Bucharest 9 transport ministers meeting in Lithuania on Tuesday. The ministers will also meet, among others, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Polish Transport Minister Dariusz Klimczak. The visit will conclude with a ministerial round table to discuss Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding for military mobility in the next budgetary period, the coordination of European and NATO infrastructure needs and the enhancement of the resilience of transport infrastructure to hybrid threats.