The gathering, held in the central city of Łódź under Poland’s presidency of the Council of the EU, focused on the future of European transport policy.
Key topics included the impact of geopolitical shifts, climate change and military threats, particularly from Russia, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Officials emphasized that substantial, long-term investments in infrastructure are necessary to ensure resilience in the European transport network.
Dariusz Klimczak, Poland’s infrastructure minister, said that expanding the EU’s core transport network, known as the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), will require an estimated EUR 845 billion over the next 15 years.
He warned that EU infrastructure spending was insufficient to meet the bloc's current and future needs.
Lithuanian transport minister Eugenijus Sabutis said that the war in Ukraine has exposed vulnerabilities in Europe’s transport systems from a military perspective. He added that Lithuania will need EUR 12 to 18 billion over the next five years to strengthen its infrastructure.
Sabutis told the conference that addressing transport gaps requires collaboration with Finland, Estonia and Poland, along with consistent financial backing for key projects. He pointed to the construction of Rail Baltica, a high-speed rail link connecting the Baltic states with the rest of Europe, as a top priority.
Sabutis also highlighted the growing demand for military transport, saying that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, military shipments along the route from Poland to Kaunas have increased by 40 percent. He argued that future infrastructure planning must take military needs into account.
Finland’s transport minister, Lulu Ranne, underscored the challenges facing her country, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia.
She told the gathering that Finland has historically designed its transport infrastructure for both civilian and military use, but additional connections to Sweden and Norway are urgently needed.
Ranne said that Finland still operates on the Russian railway gauge, which creates logistical difficulties.
"We must eliminate transport bottlenecks—not just for Finland’s security, but for the security of NATO as a whole," she added.
Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister and transport minister, Grozdan Karadjov, echoed these concerns, warning that the war in Ukraine has affected the entire European economy.
He noted that while east-west transport corridors have been a priority, north-south connections have lagged behind. He highlighted the Mediterranean Corridor, the shortest route between Europe and Asia, as a key area for investment.
However, Bulgaria, despite having more than 300 kilometers of border with Romania along the Danube River, has only two bridges crossing the waterway, Karadjov said. He expressed hope that Poland’s EU presidency would strengthen Europe’s transport security.
Greek transport minister Christos Staikouras stressed the need to modernize European transport corridors by expanding electrification and strengthening infrastructure against climate change and military threats.
Magda Kopczyńska, director-general for transport at the European Commission, reiterated the importance of connectivity in ensuring security.
She argued that the TEN-T network must encompass the entire continent, including Ukraine and Moldova.
"For me, the trans-European transport network is a single entity," Kopczyńska said.
Dariusz Joński, a Polish member of the European Parliament and a member of the Transport and Tourism Committee, called for sustained funding for large-scale infrastructure projects, noting that political changes should not disrupt long-term initiatives.
He cited the Turin-Lyon tunnel, a major railway project dating back to the 20th century, which is set to be completed by 2032.
"The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of rail transport — not only for passengers and evacuations but also for military logistics," he added.
Summing up the discussions, Klimczak, the Polish infrastructure minister, reiterated his country's commitment to working with Ukraine and Lithuania to secure financing for projects that enhance connectivity across Europe.
"Transport requires massive investment, and this transitional phase between the EU’s old and new financial frameworks is a critical moment," Klimczak said.
"We cannot afford delays—our economies depend on stability," he added.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP