Enrico Letta, former Italian prime minister and president of the Jacques Delors Institute, has called for a revitalisation of the European single market, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the continent’s railway infrastructure to drive integration and sustainability. His remarks came during a high-level debate at the European Parliament, co-hosted by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the Jacques Delors Institute.
The event, hosted by MEP and EPP Vice-Chair Massimiliano Salini, explored the strategic development of the transport sector, with rail at its core. It drew on the recent report ‘Much more than a Market’, commissioned by the EU Council, and CER’s 2024-2029 policy agenda ‘On Track for Europe’.
Letta, the keynote speaker and author of the report, stressed the urgency for change in the single market, citing persistent barriers to its four freedoms. He highlighted the need for a functioning intermodal Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and adequate funding, including high-speed passenger rail services connecting European capitals and major urban hubs.
“It is a glaring paradox that reaching European capitals by high-speed train remains difficult,” Letta said, underscoring the need for a high-speed masterplan, a priority acknowledged in President von der Leyen’s recent mission letter on transport.
Letta also criticised the underperformance of Europe’s capital market, describing it as the biggest failure among the four Single Market freedoms. He noted that a significant portion of European savings, between €300bn and €350bn, is invested in US private equity and called for reforms to channel these funds into the European economy to finance rail projects effectively.
Alberto Mazzola, CER Executive Director, agreed with Letta’s assessment, emphasising the need for fair, long-term, comprehensive financing to address bottlenecks preventing the rail market from reaching its potential. He also stressed the importance of deploying digital enablers, such as the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC), to optimise rail freight operations and enhance rail services.
The debate brought together prominent figures, including Magda Kopczyńska, Director General of the European Commission’s DG MOVE, Katalin Molnár, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, and Robert de Groot, Vice-President of the EIB. They discussed the role of rail in promoting integrated markets, sustainable mobility, and strategic autonomy for Europe.
Ana Vasconcelos, Renew Group, TRAN Committee, European Parliament, said: “Free circulation is the backbone of the EU’s Single Market project. Increasing rail competitiveness is key to get Europe on track to face two of its biggest challenges: economic growth and environmental sustainability.”
Massimiliano Salini, MEP and EPP Vice-Chair, stated, “Railways have to be an efficient tool for the European transport sector. Rail infrastructures play a key role in boosting the competitiveness of European industries.”
Letta concluded, “The transport sector is a cornerstone of Europe’s dynamism and competitiveness. We must intensify efforts to build a comprehensive, pan-European high-speed rail network that connects all EU capitals and major urban centres.”
Photo credit: CER/©David Plas
