Funding for Rail Baltica is uncertain as, due to delays, it is behind schedule and more money will need to be allocated after the European Parliament elections and in the next budget.Currently, the EU funds up to 85 percent of the total costs, but this could change when a new agreement is struck in the coming years.
Ave Schank-Lukas, economic advisor of the Estonian representation of the European Commission, said setting the next budget will be one of the major tasks of the new members of the European Commission after this year’s elections.
“They have to come out with a proposal by June next year at the latest, so in broad terms there will be a proposal in a year’s time, but then there will be negotiations with member states and the European Parliament, which have traditionally taken about two years, to be ready for the start of the new funding period in 2028.We do hope that transport interconnections will get the attention they need there, but there is also a role for national leaders to defend their position in the Council and to stress the importance of funding in this area,” Schank-Lukas told Vikerradio’s “Reporteritund” program on Tuesday.
Read more: ERR.EE
