Baltic Transport Ministers Agree to Pursue Additional Funding for Rail Baltica

Baltic Transport Ministers have agreed to jointly pursue additional European funding for the Rail Baltica project, emphasizing its strategic importance for military mobility and regional security. This shared objective was outlined in a joint statement signed on Tuesday in Vilnius by Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Eugenijus Sabutis, Latvia’s Minister for Transport, Atis Švinka, and Estonia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis.

According to Minister Sabutis, Rail Baltica plays a vital role in ensuring both transport connectivity and military mobility, making it essential to secure continued EU funding beyond the 2021–2027 investment period.

“The implementation of the European-gauge Rail Baltica project is of particular importance for transport connectivity, economic development, and – most importantly – security in the Baltic region. That is why it is essential that we work together to ensure the project is completed by 2030,” said Minister of Transport and Communications, Eugenijus Sabutis.

The joint statement by the ministers emphasizes that the Baltic countries must work together to secure long-term EU funding, finding sources for additional financing to accelerate the construction of Rail Baltica’s main line and ensure the project’s timely and efficient implementation. The statement also underscores that a coordinated and well-funded approach will enhance Europe’s strategic readiness and reinforce the resilience of its transport networks.

The Transport Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will continue their visit today in Kaunas and the Jonava District, where they will be joined by Poland’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dariusz Klimczak, along with the heads of AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai and AB LTG Infra, to inspect the ongoing Rail Baltica construction works in Lithuania.

In Lithuania, construction is currently underway on a 46.3 km section of the Rail Baltica main line embankment and related civil engineering works between Kaunas and Panevėžys. By the end of 2025, construction activities in Lithuania are expected to expand to cover a total of 114 km.

The Baltic countries require an additional EUR 10 billion in funding to complete the Rail Baltica project by 2030, including approximately EUR 4 billion needed by Lithuania.

Rail Baltica is the largest railway infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic countries. It involves the construction of an electrified, dual European-gauge railway line connecting Warsaw, Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys, Riga, Pärnu, and Tallinn. The total length of the Rail Baltica railway line across the Baltic States will be 870 km—392 km in Lithuania, 265 km in Latvia, and 213 km in Estonia.