(1)

The cross-border project Rail Baltica is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring the functioning of the North Sea – Baltic and the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea European Transport Corridors. The Rail Baltica line will be an interoperable and efficient railway connection between Poland and the Baltic States and, indirectly, Finland. It will create connection points between rail, sea, air and road transport. As a major missing link on both corridors, the Rail Baltica line will also help connect the region to Ukraine and Moldova which are part of the North Sea – Baltic and the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea corridors. It is expected to contribute to the promotion of zero-emission mobility in line with the relevant Union CO2 reduction targets.

(2)

Given the current international context, the geostrategic value of the Rail Baltica line has increased significantly. Its contribution to defence, security and military mobility should be taken into account during its implementation.

(3)

The Rail Baltica project has faced extraordinary circumstances, such as the outbreak of the COVID pandemic and Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, causing major disruption to the implementation of the project. That necessitates a re-evaluation of the implementation timetable as set out in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1723 (2).

(4)

The Rail Baltica line is implemented as a fast conventional, mixed passenger and freight railway line. It should contribute to the ambition of connecting all European capitals by high-speed rail.

(5)

The Rail Baltica line should connect the three Baltic countries to the European railway network in 2030 and integrate them into the single European railway area.

(6)

The Rail Baltica line is the backbone of the European railway system based on the European standard nominal track gauge of 1 435 mm in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In the future, that European gauge railway system should be gradually expanded in the region, in line with the national re-gauging plans.

(7)

In accordance with Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679, without prejudice to Article 8(5) of that Regulation, Member States are to complete the core network by 31 December 2030. Furthermore, Article 8(5) provides that the implementation of projects of common interest depends on their degree of maturity, compliance with Union and national legal procedures, and the availability of financial resources, without prejudging the financial commitment of a Member State or of the Union.

(8)

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland should make every effort to meet the target date of 2030 for the core network. However, because of technical and financial challenges of the project, the Rail Baltica project will not be completed before the end of 2030.

(9)

In view of, on the one hand, the time and the resources required to build the complete Rail Baltica line and, on the other hand, the strategic importance to connect Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to the European railway network as soon as possible, that line should be built in two phases.

(10)

During the first phase until the end of 2030, the basic Rail Baltica line should be built to connect Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the European railway network. During the second phase, further elements which are essential to use the full potential of the Rail Baltica line, should be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2024/1679.

(11)

In order for the line to be operational as early as possible, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania should build the Rail Baltica line as a single track from Tallinn to Kaunas during the first phase. To start ramping up cross-border traffic on the Rail Baltica corridor during the first phase, Lithuania should be able to implement energy, control-command and signalling subsystem installations on the existing railway track in in the European standard nominal gauge of 1 435 mm on the section between Poland and Kaunas.

(12)

That phasing should give all involved partners the certainty that the basic cross-border connections will be built as a priority and by the end of 2030.

(13)

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland should collaborate closely during the planning and construction of the Rail Baltica line to ensure a coordinated construction and a fully interoperable railway line. The Rail Baltica Task Force, chaired by the European Coordinator of the North Sea – Baltic corridor, should provide for steering between the ministries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland, and the Commission to support coordination, guide the project and foster a smooth implementation.

(14)

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have agreed to build the Rail Baltica line in close collaboration, and in close coordination with Finland.

(15)

The Baltic states should work with their joint venture RB Rail AS which continues performing as the project coordinator, and acts as the main interlocutor for the Rail Baltica partners, namely Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and their national affiliated entities, in their exchanges with the Commission to ensure a coherent implementation. The joint venture RB Rail AS and the national affiliated entities should implement the cross-border project Rail Baltica, in line with the agreed project setup.

(16)

This Decision should set out the actions and the timetable for their completion in order to guide the work of the project partners and provide clarity to stakeholders involved in the project implementation. It should also reflect the updated implementation strategy based on geographical operational sections as outlined in the Project Management Agreement concluded between the joint venture RB Rail AS, the responsible ministries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the national affiliated entities of the Rail Baltica project on 28 February 2024.

(17)

In accordance with Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679, the Commission is to update this Decision every four years or upon request of a Member State involved.

(18)

As the timetable and the measures set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1723 are outdated and the geopolitical context has changed, that Implementing Decision should be repealed.

(19)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 61 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679,