Overview
- Brussels estimates up to €550 billion will be needed, with funding to be coordinated across EU programs, national budgets, the EIB and private investors.
- Targets include Berlin–Copenhagen in 4 hours, Madrid–Lisbon in 3, Sofia–Athens in 6, Lisbon–Paris in 9 via Madrid, and Amsterdam–Warsaw in 10.
- The Commission will table a one‑click, multi‑operator cross‑border ticketing proposal in early 2026 to simplify international bookings.
- Further liberalisation is planned to open routes to new operators, with the Commission citing a roughly 40% fare drop on Madrid–Barcelona after competition increased.
- Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas plans a meeting at the Spain–France border with both countries’ transport ministers to address Atlantic corridor bottlenecks.