On 27 September 2019, the European Union has announced an investment of over €117 million in 39 key transport projects with focus on sustainable transport modes, which aim at reducing the noise generated by freight trains, developing and improving cross-border railway links and upgrading crucial infrastructure in ports.

On 27 September 2019, the European Union has announced an investment of over €117 million in 39 key transport projects with focus on sustainable transport modes, which aim at reducing the noise generated by freight trains, developing and improving cross-border railway links and upgrading crucial infrastructure in ports.

The projects, which will be financed through the Connecting Europe Facility(CEF), the EU’s financial mechanism supporting transport infrastructure, were selected via a competitive call launched in January 2019.

In particular, eight projects will contribute to reduce rail freight noise by upgrading rail wagon braking systems in order to make them quieter and more efficient, consequently lowering the energy consumption of trains and improving the living conditions of those living close by railway tracks. Other projects, instead, aim at upgrading existing railway lines, such as the one from Austria to the Hungarian border or that between Bremen (Germany) and Groningen (the Netherlands). Lastly, a large group of projects involve upgrading infrastructure within EU ports to foster multimodality and lowering emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Following EU Member States approval of the proposal, the Commission will adopt a formal decision, and the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) will then sign the grant agreements with the project beneficiaries at the latest by January 2020. Beneficiaries will directly manage the projects, and the Member States will remain responsible for monitoring their implementation.

Marco Stillo