In a joint statement, ten European associations of the the railway sector have called on the governments of the EU Member States and the Members of the European Parliament to give strong support to the European Connecting Europe Transport Facility programme (CEF Transport), maintaining its level of ambition, and to take action to enable the acceleration of network completion TEN-T trans-European transport system.

The signatory associations AERRL (Association of European Rail Rolling stock Lessors), ALLRAIL (Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants in Europe), CER (Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies), CT4EU (Combined Transport for Europe 2024-26), EIM (European Rail Infrastructure Managers), ERFA (European Rail Freight Association), UIP (International Union of Wagon Keepers), UITP (International Association of Public Transport), UIRR (International Union of combined Road-Rail transport companies) and UNIFE (European Rail Supply Industry Association) expressed their support for the proposal of the 16 July of the European Commission to continue the Connecting Europe Facility programme under the Framework Multiannual EU Financial for the period 2028-2034. The proposal provides for an increase in the overall budget of the EFC Transport at 45.7 billion euros. The ten associations have however, noted that, net of mobility expenses in the military sector, CEF Transport is expected to provide a Budget of €30 billion, or one billion less compared to the current seven-year budget, while the budget for the Military mobility rises to 15.7 billion compared to the current two billion euros.

Highlighting that the infrastructures and activities of rail transport form the backbone of the European civil and military connectivity, the ten associations stressed that a transport infrastructure network interoperable and resilient European Union, as described in the TEN-T Regulation, is therefore essential for the safety and security of the economic competitiveness of the European Union. In declaration, AERRL, ALLRAIL, CER, CT4EU, EIM, ERFA, UIP, UITP, UIRR and UNIFE have noted that, "despite the fact that in recent years significant progress has been made towards achieving the creation of a single European railway area, continue to significant bottlenecks along core networks, "extended core" and "comprehensive" of the TEN-T. These obstacles - the associations remarked - are particularly relevant in international connections, where a Smooth connectivity continues to be problematic, so such as in urban nodes and multimodal hubs where goods and passengers should change modes of transport without a solution continuity. Solving these bottlenecks - explained - is essential to provide better services of rail transport for passengers and goods, and to meet the needs of military mobility".

The ten associations have expressed support for the proposal put forward in July by the European Commission because, in - they specified - "the future CEF will finance infrastructure projects with a significant size and dual-use military mobility projects" and praised "this strategic approach" stressing "the fundamental importance of ensuring sufficient funding for the implementation of systems interoperable at European level, including ERTMS, as well as for the development of an efficient European rail network and in particular high-speed rail and its ancillary network, including through resilient multimodal hubs and Efficient. At the same time - they observed - it is necessary ensure that EU citizens and all stakeholders also see the benefits of defence investments in their daily mobility options".