On 19th April 2023, the European Union’s (EU) Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the revision of the rules for the TEN-T trans-European transport network. This is the EU's plan to build a network of railway lines, roads, inland waterways, and short sea shipping corridors linked by ports and terminals across the EU. Members of the European Parliament (MEP) reiterate the need to complete major transport infrastructure projects on the core TEN-T network by the end of 2030 and on a comprehensive network by the end of 2050. They therefore propose that the European Commission (EC) immediately launch infringement proceedings and cut or stop funding in the event of a significant delay. The EU Parliament is also in favour of uniform technical and operational standards for each mode of transport and stresses that intermodal transport should primarily be carried out by rail, inland waterways, or short sea shipping. Current TEN-T projects include Rail Baltica, the Brenner Base Tunnel and the Lisbon – Madrid high-speed rail (HSR) line.
