EUROPE: The European Commission has brought forward the awarding of EU grants to co-fund projects to support military mobility, explaining that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased the urgency of making Europe’s transport infrastructure fit for dual civilian and defence use.
The first Military Mobility call for proposals was issued under the 2021 Connecting Europe Facility programme, and on April 7 EU member states approved the selection of 22 projects to receive a total of €339m. These projects are intended to enable the movement of larger and heavier trains, increase capacity at ports and airports and strengthen road bridges.
The Commission has also brought forward the second Military Mobility call for proposals, which had been planned for later this year but will now be launched in May.
‘Europe’s Transport infrastructure is critical for our security’, said Commissioner for Transport Adina-Ioana Vălean. ‘This is why we are taking concrete measures to support investments that make it fit, not only for civilian use, but also for our defence.’ She said the projects would ‘facilitate the movement of military troops and assets leading to more efficient deployment of our missions on the ground.’
Dirk Beckers, Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure & Environment Executive Agency, said the EU was ‘sensitive and reactive to the ongoing geopolitical crisis. These new CEF co-funded projects signal the EU’s continued determination to deliver a better transport infrastructure for all Europeans.’
| Rail projects awarded EU funding under the Military Mobility call for proposals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Proposal |
Project |
Country |
Co-ordinator |
Recommended eligible costs, €m |
Recommended CEF funding, €m |
|
21-BE-TM-4 long tracks 750m |
Construction of four tracks at Montzen to accommodate 740 m long trains between the port of Antwerpen and Germany |
Belgium |
Infrabel |
10·5 |
5·3 |
|
21-DE-TM-MilMob DEU 2021 |
Improving the infrastructure for 740 m trains on the North Sea-Baltic Corridor |
Germany |
Federal Ministry for Digital & Transport |
99·2 |
49·6 |
|
21-EE-TM-EstMilMob |
Enhancing multimodal military mobility in Estonia and improving dual-use transport links to Tapa army base |
Estonia |
Estonian Centre for Defence Investment |
62·3 |
31·2 |
|
21-EU-TM-ELHA |
Electrification of Laurila – Tornio – Haparanda railway |
Finland |
Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency |
19·7 |
14·9 |
|
21-FI-TM-ORITKARI |
Triangular junction at Oritkari serving Oulu port area |
Finland |
Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency |
14·2 |
7·1 |
|
21-FR-TM-MUSSUGUET TUNNEL |
Mussuguet Tunnel gauge clearance for military and civilian traffic |
France |
SNCF Reseau |
11·2 |
5·6 |
|
21-HU-TM-WEST HUN RAIL MILMOB |
Adaptation of TEN-T stations in western Hungary for civilian and military dual use |
Hungary |
Ministry for Innovation & Technology |
6·3 |
3·1 |
|
21-IT-TM-APo-APa740 |
Upgrading for 740 m long trains at Pontedera and Palmanova |
Italy |
RFI |
7·8 |
3·9 |
|
21-LT-TM-MCLP |
Military/civilian loading facility in Palemonas |
Lithuania |
LTG Infra |
26·6 |
13·3 |
|
21-LV-TM-RBMMLV CEF2-1MM |
Integration of military mobility requirements in the Latvian part of the Rail Baltica project |
Latvia |
Ministry of Transport |
9·8 |
4·9 |
|
21-PT-TM-DUALITRAIL-AVEIRO |
Dual-use intermodal terminal and rail extensions in the port of Aveiro |
Portugal |
Administração Do Porto De Aveiro |
16·1 |
7·6 |
|
21-SI-TMACCESS2KOPERPORT |
Improving maritime and land accessibility between the TEN-T core network and the port of Koper |
Slovenia |
Luka Koper Port & Logistic System |
40·2 |
20·1 |
