Europe’s transport sector calls for a stronger EU Budget to boost resilience and competitiveness
Europe’s transport sector is uniting behind a clear message: to achieve strategic objectives and safeguard its future, the European Union must significantly increase funding for transport in the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF), with particular emphasis on the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
In an open letter to EU Member States dated 19 February 2026, 45 European transport organisations collectively urged national governments to allocate at least €100 billion to the CEF, highlighting the critical role of transport in resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability.
The set-up
Transport infrastructure underpins almost every aspect of Europe’s economy and security. As the open letter notes, only with strong, modern, and well-integrated networks can Europe strengthen its military preparedness, reinforce industrial competitiveness, ensure supply chain sovereignty, and respond to growing geopolitical and climate challenges. The sector stresses that existing funding gaps and underinvestment risk are undermining these priorities. Without substantial EU support, projects that deliver high societal value may fail to materialise or reach their full potential.
The Connecting Europe Facility has long been a cornerstone of EU transport policy, successfully channelling funds to projects that enhance connectivity, modernise infrastructure, and promote sustainable mobility. Yet, high demand has consistently outstripped available resources, leaving many high-value projects underfunded. The open letter calls on EU Member States and the Commission to address these funding shortfalls, arguing that a reinforced CEF budget is of the utmost importance to deliver on strategic goals and also catalyse additional public and private investment.
Where investment is needed
The letter highlights multiple areas where investment is critical. These include addressing bottlenecks and missing links in transport networks, improving safety and climate resilience, and ensuring dual-use readiness for military mobility.
Recent geopolitical developments underscore the need for transport infrastructure that is both reliable and flexible—capable of sustaining supply chains under stress and supporting the free movement of people and goods. EU transport networks, the letter notes, remain insufficiently adapted for dual-use needs and vulnerable to natural and man-made disruptions, emphasising the urgency of investment.
Beyond strategic security, transport is central to Europe’s economic ambitions. Efficient infrastructure enables industrial competitiveness, links production sites with markets, secures the supply of critical raw materials, and supports social and territorial cohesion. Recent analyses by Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta reinforce this point, demonstrating how robust transport networks directly contribute to economic growth, job creation, and social stability.
The momentum
The open letter comes at a moment of momentum: with the European Commission’s MFF and CEF proposals on the table, Council discussions underway, and Parliament beginning its deliberations, the Transport Coalition sees an opportunity to coordinate action and advocate for a robust budget. The Coalition plans to convene a meeting of all partners on 8 December 2026 in Brussels to discuss potential advocacy activities, aiming to defend transport funding and ensure continued EU support.
The unified message from Europe’s transport sector is clear: if the EU intends to build a resilient, competitive, and sustainable Union, it must commit substantial resources to transport. Strengthening the CEF and safeguarding sufficient funding under the next MFF is not only an investment in infrastructure but an investment in Europe’s security, economic stability, and future competitiveness.
The full text of the open letter, along with the list of 45 signatories, is available online.
