Baltic states and Poland seek EU funding for Rail Baltica

Leaders from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland have issued a joint letter to European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, requesting dedicated funding for the ‘Rail Baltica’ project in the next EU multiannual budget (2028–2034).

The leaders emphasized that the railway is more than a transport project, describing it as a strategic investment in European security, military mobility, economic resilience, and territorial cohesion. They noted that the project is essential for ensuring the ability of the EU and NATO to rapidly move troops and military equipment to Europe’s eastern flank.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda highlighted the project's importance for both economic and military reasons, expressing a desire to avoid further delays. The four nations have committed to completing the project within the 2028–2034 financial framework and are calling for stable, predictable, and targeted EU funding through the Connecting Europe Facility.