Government: Military mobility must be addressed by Trans-European Transport Network 

On 10 November 2023, the Government submitted a follow-up Union communication to Parliament on the European Commission’s proposal for a TEN-T Regulation. The changes in the security environment after spring 2022 have given rise to a need to review positions on military mobility and the maps contained in the TEN-T Regulation.

In December 2021, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Regulation on Union guidelines for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

Dual use of Trans-European Transport Network must be developed

In the Government’s view, the development of the TEN-T network must take greater account of military mobility than has been proposed. The dual use of the network for both civil and military transport must be developed to allow a rapid concentration of a large number of troops anywhere in Europe, including sparsely populated yet strategically important regions in Northern Europe.

The changing security landscape, together with Finland’s NATO membership and any consequent needs for using the transport infrastructure and improving the transport system, may also make it necessary to make changes to the TEN-T network. 

The Government considers it essential for Finland to make full use of possible future calls for funding applications concerning military mobility.

”Safety is crucial in building the trans-European transport infrastructure network. Finland firmly believes that it is important to promote civil and military mobility at the same time,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne. 

The Government also believes that it is necessary to remove the direct line section of the Finland Railway rail line from the TEN-T extended core network as outlined in the Government Programme. The airport rail line would remain as planned.

Next steps

Work on the TEN-T Regulation will continue in tripartite negotiations, trilogues, between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The next trilogue is scheduled for 14 November 2023. 

Finland will actively bring forward its views on the TEN-T network maps, including the network of ports, in the negotiations on the TEN-T Regulation. 

Inquiries:

Kaisa Kuukasjärvi, Ministerial Adviser, [email protected], tel. +358 50414 0330