08.10.2026
Northern transport connections and the New North project on display in Brussels
From 28 September to 1 October, the European Commission organised Connecting Europe Days, the European Union's flagship transport policy event in Brussels.
The three-day event brought together policy makers, transport system experts and stakeholders, as well as representatives of the European Commission. Discussions focused on the future of the European transport system and its development. The aim is to create a competitive, safe and sustainable transport system in Europe.
The event was opened by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, whose speech highlighted the role of the European transport system in a post-Cold War integrated Europe. In her speech, Ms von der Leyen also highlighted the increase proposed for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) financial instrument in the transport budget. The budget proposed for the development of the transport system (CEF-Transport) would increase to more than EUR 50 billion.
"The most important message for Northern Ostrobothnia is that transport projects that can be justified from the point of view of vitality, exports, security of supply and safety must be completed for the next CEF season," summarises the 3rd Vice-President of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, who participated in the event. Juha Koskela. He continues:
"The region generates energy, industrial investments and exports, but their growth requires well-functioning cross-border road and rail connections. Where CEF 3 focuses on European added value and cross-border projects, preparation must be sufficiently advanced even before calls for funding are opened."
On the closing day of the event, the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) European Transport Corridor Forums were organised. TEN-T is a transport network defined by the EU, which aims to integrate the key road, rail, port and air transport connections of the member states into a functional whole. The European Transport Corridors are multi-territorial, strategically important transport routes, the development of which the EU promotes in accordance with common objectives and requirements.
At the end of September, the European Commission published work plans examining the current status and development needs of the European Transport Corridors. The forums reviewed the development prospects of the transport corridors by Member State. In Finland, the development of highway 4 and the main line, which are part of the TEN-T core network, is still far from the service level requirements set by the Commission at several intervals. This is also reflected in the current status descriptions of the published work plans.
In addition to various debates, the event featured numerous EU-funded transport system projects across Europe. The joint New North project of the northern regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway was also on display at the event.
The project funded by the Interreg Aurora programme has produced reports and concrete proposals for measures and operating models for the development of cross-border traffic in the northern region. The reports of the New North project can be consulted: The website of the Regional Council of Lapland.
