RIGA - The work of the Friends of Rail Baltica cooperation group will be particularly crucial for the project's development as discussions on the European Union's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) progress, the group's chairman and the European Parliament's Vice-President Roberts Zile (National Alliance) says.
According to the official website of the Rail Baltica international railroad project, the Friends of Rail Baltica cooperation group, established in 2016 and chaired by Zile, on Tuesday held its first meeting in the new EP term, emphasizing the project's strategic importance for European connectivity and security.
During the working meeting, detailed presentations were given on the progress of Rail Baltica's implementation, with representatives from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland participating. The discussions emphasized the importance of continued support for Rail Baltica as a strategic infrastructure project.
This was the first meeting of the Rail Baltica cooperation group in the new EP term, said Zile. "I am pleased to see new members joining the group who recognize the significance of this project not only for the Baltic region but also for Europe's broader security context," he said.
According to Marko Kivila, Interim Chairman of the Management Board and CEO at RB Rail, the parliamentarians recognized the importance of Rail Baltica and acknowledged its potential impact not only on the Baltic region but also on the broader European landscape.
In turn, the European Coordinator for the North-Sea Baltic Trans-European Transport Network Catherine Trautmann voiced strong support for the project, reinforcing the collaborative spirit among stakeholders. "There is a shared understanding that the implementing decision is progressing well, with an expectation that it will be adopted by the end of 2024. This timeline reflects a clear commitment to advancing Rail Baltica and ensuring its successful implementation in the future," said Kivila.
Currently, there are strategically important decisions that the government must make in order to continue the sequential implementation of the Rail Baltica project in Latvia - similar to what has been done in the other Baltic states facing the same challenges, said RB Rail board member Kitija Gruskevica.
On Tuesday, at a Cabinet meeting held alongside international cooperation formats, the issue of implementing the Rail Baltica project in Latvia was discussed, and the priority tasks for the first phase of the project were conceptually supported, said Gruskevica.
Although work on further detailing and reviewing these issues will continue, this marks significant progress as it demonstrates the government's commitment to supporting efforts to find solutions for continuing the implementation of Rail Baltica, believes Gruskevica.
"Work will continue on reviewing implementation solutions for the project, including optimizing technical and administrative resources to achieve the fastest possible way to ensure a functioning high-speed rail connection," emphasized Gruskevica.
As of 2024, approximately 180 kilometers of the mainline with related infrastructure is in the construction phase across all three countries. Significant contracts have been signed for railway embankments, and key railway subsystem procurements are nearing completion.
By 2025, construction is expected to be underway on 43 percent of the Rail Baltica mainline, which spans a total of 659 kilometers in its first phase. The project aims to establish a single-track on a double-track embankment across various sections by 2030, with a total capital expenditure estimated at EUR 14 billion for the first phase.
According to the latest information from RB Rail, the cost of the first phase of Rail Baltica in the Baltics could reach EUR 14.3 billion, of which EUR 5.5 billion in Latvia, but potential savings of up to EUR 400 million from optimization of technical solutions and other savings are also possible.
2025 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy Privacy Policy