From Tallinn to Warsaw: Rail Baltic shows investment in transport network will strengthen Europe's single market - Main contents
Speaking at a conference organised by Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council in Finland, the President of European Committee of the Regions - Markku Markkula - pointed out that Rail Baltic will connect the Baltic States and Finland bringing them even closer to the European single market. Rail Baltic, a high speed railway corridor linking Tallinn to Warsaw, is currently the largest investment project in the Baltic States and is expected to be completed by 2024.
Speaking at the conference "Rail Baltic - Business Opportunities in the Baltic States" on Monday, President Markkula said: "Efficient railway links to central Europe are a key factor for strengthening the northern dimension of the EU and Rail Baltic is a core part of it. We need to invest on developing transport networks in order to better access European and global markets and to ensure our competitiveness."
According to the CoR President, transport networks play a crucial part in providing a productive and attractive business environment in a world where digitalisation, new forms of commerce and distribution, and improved public transport connections allow for the development of considerably larger business and labour market areas. Future investments should therefore focus on improving the TEN-T core network agreed at EU and national level.
"While Baltic States are investing 3,6 billion euros in the Rail Baltic project and Sweden will spend 2,3 billion euros yearly to improve its transport network in the coming years, the corresponding expenditure in Finland has been between 600 and 700 million euros per year. Although investments from our neighbour countries are helping us, Finland should be at the forefront of technical development and investments to compensate for the distance-related costs", Markkula said.
Contact:
Lauri Ouvinen
Tel. +32 22822063
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