The European Court of Auditors (ECA), a European Union institution, has updated a 2020 report, which found “cost increases, weak coordination between member states and weaknesses in the European Commission’s oversight”, with the new report finding that six of eight core projects, called Transport Flagship Infrastructures (TFIs), are unlikely to be completed by 2030.
The 2026 report notes that the combined cost of the eight TFIs has increased by 24%, although this has been mainly caused by Rail Baltica and the Lyon-Turin tunnel.
Rail Baltica’s costs have risen from €5.8bn to €23.8bn between 2017 and 2023.
A 2024 report by the Baltic states noted a comprehensive risk management strategy was incomplete, with the ECA citing the main reasons for the delay and cost increases were a lack of maturity and detail of the previous estimates plus changes to the project scope and design.
Its first phase has been scaled back, with the overall project currently without a completion date.
The price of the Lyon-Turin tunnel project has risen by 23% in the last six years, due in part to changes in scope, with a single-tube tunnel originally designed, but a two-tube tunnel now deemed necessary.
The Seine–Nord Canal has seen a 225% overall rise in price, but was valued before a feasibility study was undertaken.
On the other hand, the cost of Poland’s A1 motorway upgrade and E59 railway have fallen.
The ECA’s recommendations target the European Commission, who it claims has not made full use of the tools at its disposal. For instance, only once has it invoked Article 56 of the 2013 TEN-T Regulation giving it the right to receive information about the reasons behind project delays.
The ECA recommends the Commission introduce provisions to improve clarity between national transport plans and TEN-T.
The Commission should also support member states in planning, procurement and administrative burden, as well as common tendering procedures.
Previous reports have found that EU trans-national corridors were not a priority for member states and that the Commission had no power to enforce cross-border projects. A lack of cross-border coordination and EU permit-granting have been cited by the ECA as two sources of delays.
Weak coordination, such as varying implementation timelines on the Atlantic Corridor between Spain and France and differences in traffic estimates for the Brenner Base Tunnel have compounded issues.
Vincent Bourgeais from the ECA, said to GCR: “There are general challenges facing all the megaprojects such as COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, evolving regulatory framework and in some cases unexpected technical challenges.
“Megaprojects are often facing changes in scope and unexpected project complexity. Despite this, they are key to closing gaps in the network, removing bottlenecks and facilitating cross-border mobility and as such are key to the TEN-T concept.”
Annemie Turtelboom, the ECA’s head author on the report, said: “EU transport flagship infrastructures are supposed to reshape Europe, bringing people closer together and facilitating economic activity.
“But three decades after most of them were designed, we are still a long way from cutting the ribbon on these projects, and a long way from achieving the intended improvements in passenger and freight flows across Europe.”
The full report is available to read here.
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EU gives troubled Rail Baltica programme extra €1.2bn Brenner Base Tunnel breaks through to connect Austria and Italy Robotic factory to make 160 ashlar blocks a day for Turin-Lyon tunnel EU to spend €6.2bn on tunnels, roads, rail, and portsWhy is the EU’s flagship Trans-European Transport Network delayed? Global Construction Review.
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