Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto and Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas presenting the Commission’s transport package. Photo source: European Commission
The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive transport package aimed at cutting travel times across Europe while accelerating investment in renewable and low-carbon fuels for aviation and shipping.
The initiative is designed to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, improve connectivity and advance the continent’s transition to a net-zero economy.
Faster, more connected rail network
At the heart of the package is the High-Speed Rail Action Plan, which sets out steps to create a faster, interoperable European rail network by 2040. The plan targets major cross-border connections with speeds of 200 km/h and above, aiming to make rail a viable alternative to short-haul flights and boost regional economies and tourism.
Passengers could see travel times cut dramatically, such as Berlin–Copenhagen reduced from seven hours to four, and Sofia–Athens from nearly 14 hours to six. Paris–Lisbon via Madrid and improved links between the Baltic capitals are also included.
Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto and Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas. Photo source: European Commission
“By investing in faster, better-connected rail and scaling up renewable and low-carbon fuels, we are making Europe’s transport system cleaner, more resilient and more affordable for citizens,” Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said.
The plan also includes removing cross-border bottlenecks, developing coordinated financing strategies, improving conditions for rail operators and strengthening EU-level governance to support long-distance services.
“High-speed rail is cohesion in action,” said Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto highlighting the broader impact. “Improving travel times between capitals brings citizens closer together, facilitates business, and strengthens Europe’s competitiveness.”
Beyond faster journeys, the package aims to reduce congestion, enable more freight and night-train services, and enhance Europe’s leadership in sustainable transport, while signaling clear opportunities for investors and industry stakeholders in the green transition.
Scaling up renewable and low-carbon fuels
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas. Photo source: European Commission
Complementing rail initiatives, the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) aims to drive investment in renewable and low-carbon fuels for aviation and maritime transport.
To meet EU climate targets, approximately 20 million tonnes of sustainable fuels will be needed by 2035, requiring an estimated 100 billion euros in investment.
Key measures to mobilize at least 2.9 billion euros by 2027 include 2 billion euros under InvestEU for sustainable fuels, 300 million euros via the European Hydrogen Bank, 446 million euros through the Innovation Fund for synthetic fuels and 133.5 million euros in research under Horizon Europe.
Additionally, the Commission plans to launch an eSAF Early Movers Coalition pilot by year-end to mobilize at least 500 million euros for synthetic aviation fuel projects.
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