European logistics infrastructure investment
Transport coalition urges EU to increase funding for transport infrastructure to reinforce Europe’s industrial competitiveness
A coalition of 45 European transport organisations, including the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG), the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) and the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT), have issued an open letter to the European Commission and EU member states, encouraging them to increase the budget for improving transport infrastructure.
The letter’s signatories called upon the European Commission and EU member states to “ensure sufficient EU budget for transport under the future Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) and particularly to increase the budget of the future Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to at least €100 billion ($117.7 billion)”.
They highlighted rising geopolitical and economic tensions, along with climate change, as some of the challenges they believe it is essential to address through ensuring a resilient, well-integrated and interconnected European transport network.
The letter outlines the time-critical nature of this concern, noting that action must be taken now to address bottlenecks, improve climate change preparedness and improve overall resilience.
“Europe’s competitiveness and resilience depend on a modern, well-connected transport infrastructure network,” said Frank Schnelle, executive director of ECG. “The finished vehicle logistics sector relies on efficient road, rail, maritime and inland waterway links to keep automotive supply chains functioning smoothly across borders, connecting automotive manufacturers to their key markets.”
“Persistent underinvestment has created clear capacity and connectivity gaps,” he added. “Strengthening the Connecting Europe Facility is essential to close these gaps, enhance mobility, military mobility included and ensure that Europe’s transport corridors are fit for the future. ECG stands ready to support this effort.”
The transport coalition stated that creating an efficient transport network that effectively connects current and future production sites with their markets will be vital to Europe’s ambition to “boost its industrial competitiveness and become a leader in the shift to a net-zero economy”.
“Transport is the backbone, enabler and accelerator of the EU internal market,” the organisations wrote in the letter.
EU budget discussions
The letter was published on February 19, 2026, ahead of the EU General Affairs Council, during which discussions on the MFF were due to take place. The 2028-2034 MFF was listed on the agenda of this meeting, as preparations started for the European Council meeting in March, but there has been no confirmation yet as to whether the matters raised by the coalition were addressed. Automotive Logistics has contacted the European Council for confirmation on whether or not this was discussed.
