On 7 November 2024, Mme Catherine Trautmann, the European Coordinator for the North Sea-Baltic TEN-T Corridor, undertook a working visit to Riga to discuss the Rail Baltica project implementation scenario in Latvia and the development of the cross-border connection in the first phase of the project.
During the meeting with Latvian government ministers Mme Trautmann emphasized that Rail Baltica has been extremely effective in attracting European co-funding. In the last 2023 Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) call the project was allocated an additional funding – approximately €1.43 billion, including about €1.16 billion from the CEF and €261 million in contributions from the three Baltic States. Rail Baltica has received in grants more than any other European project and this underlines the European Commission’s strong support for the project.
The Coordinator also highlighted that Rail Baltica is a cross-border project designed to connect Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to the European rail network. While work is progressing, and Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland have reaffirmed their commitment for the project, neighboring countries are closely following the ongoing debate in Latvia. “The priority is to connect the three Baltic states to the European railway network by 2030. This is a strategic necessity. We need to focus our efforts on this,” said Catherine Trautmann, adding that “it is absolutely clear that the project will be considered completed, when the Baltic capitals, including Riga, are fully connected with the European rail network. To succeed, we need to be able to showcase the progress on the main line. Even more, this will also allow to better mobilise alternative financing thus expanding the Phase I scope of works”.
Mme Trautmann also underlined that “This is a project of also national significance. All ministers have to work together to make this project happen. It is a joint responsibility, a responsibility for the entire Latvian government, and of Latvia towards its partners. I will be happy to see progress in this respect that is expected to result in a swift agreement in the coming weeks and endorsing an agreement of Baltic states still by end of this year”.
Emphasizing the importance of cooperation with the European Commission, Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens underlines that “to secure Latvia’s national interests and meet international obligations, the initial phase of the project must prioritize the cross-border connection. Furthermore, establishing a European-gauge connection with one of Riga’s two international Rail Baltica stations is crucial to leverage the full passenger and economic potential from the outset. The upcoming negotiations for the EU Multiannual Financial Framework will be pivotal in determining the available EU funding for Rail Baltica, which will influence the timeline for initiating the project’s first phase in Latvia.”
As European Coordinator, Mme Trautmann is designated by the European Commission to support the Member States in delivery of key elements of the North Sea – Baltic transport corridor with particular focus on the cross-border transport infrastructure projects which are always more complicated than purely national ones. Rail Baltica in this respect is particularly important as it includes not only two but five Member States – the Baltic countries, but also Poland and Finland and as of this July when the new TEN-T regulation entered into force – part also of the Baltic sea – Black sea – Aegean sea corridor.