The launch of high-speed rail service from Berlin to Warsaw is scheduled for 2030, with an extension to Kyiv planned for the next phase of the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) by 2040, as reported by Apostolos Tsitsikostas, who is undergoing the approval process for his role as European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
"I will ensure that this remains a top priority so that this network develops... I will work very closely with Germany, Poland, and Ukraine," he stated during hearings in the Transport and Tourism Committee on Monday evening, responding to a question from Polish MEP Dariusz Joński, who emphasized the importance of this route.
Tsitsikostas noted that there are issues regarding the increase in train speeds on the Ukrainian side, but similar problems exist in some Eastern EU countries as well.
"We have a lot of work to do on this; it is very expensive, but we must do it," emphasized the future Commissioner, also pointing out the need for better connections within the EU rail network.
He stated that he would present a plan to connect EU capitals and major cities with high-speed rail, including night trains. Additionally, Tsitsikostas committed to introducing a unified digital option for booking and selling train tickets in the first year of his mandate.
Members of parliament urged the future Commissioner to be stricter with member states to ensure they fulfill their obligations to harmonize rail services, aiming to double rail transport by 2050. Specifically, it was suggested to introduce English as a fallback language for train drivers, as currently, train drivers must speak the language of each country they travel through, which leads to freight trains stopping at borders to change crews.
Tsitsikostas, for his part, expressed intentions to implement the directive on combined transport, increase multimodal and intermodal transport, and develop necessary support measures to ensure a level playing field for all modes of transport.
The future Commissioner, representing Greece, also advocated for a maritime industrial strategy to maintain Europe’s leadership.
In his opening speech, Tsitsikostas committed to promoting solutions for decarbonizing transport, such as the production of sustainable fuels and the development of charging infrastructure, and to presenting an investment plan for sustainable transport by 2025. Regarding competitiveness, he promised to develop an EU industrial action plan for the automotive sector, as many members expressed concerns about the crisis in European automotive manufacturing due to the rise of China.
As for tourism, he stated that the EU must maintain its top position in the global destination rankings. He committed to a sustainable tourism strategy to support the industry and preserve the well-being of local communities.
MEPs also raised questions about plans for ensuring maritime safety and countering the activities of Russia's shadow fleet, working conditions in the transport sector, especially in aviation and maritime shipping, and secured Mr. Tsitsikostas' commitment to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the situation in this area within the first 100 days.
According to the existing procedure, based on the committee's recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (the President of the European Parliament Metsola and the chairs of political groups) will conduct a final assessment and declare the hearings closed on November 21, after which letters with evaluations will be published.
The election of the full composition of the European Commission by MEPs (by majority vote in a roll-call vote) is currently scheduled for the plenary session from November 25-28 in Strasbourg.