Brussels, 14th October 2026
FEPORT calls on EU Heads of State or Government to reverse the proposed cuts to transport funding in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034 and safeguard investment in Europe’s ports and their hinterland connections.
Supporting the transport sector’s new joint letter, “Europe’s transport networks must not pay the price of the MFF deal”, FEPORT warns that reducing infrastructure funding would undermine European competitiveness and the resilience of supply chains.
The Irish Presidency’s negotiating box would reduce the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) transport envelope, including military mobility, from €45.8 billion to €40.6 billion in 2025 prices. This represents a cut of around 11%, compared with an 8% reduction in the overall proposed EU budget.
This renewed call builds on the earlier joint appeal published by FEPORT on 24 February 2026, in which 45 European transport organisations urged Member States to strengthen EU transport funding and secure a future CEF budget of at least €100 billion.
“For private port companies and terminal operators, the consequences would extend beyond the port gates. Investments in terminal capacity, electrification and digitalisation need to be matched by efficient rail, road and inland waterway connections. Unresolved bottlenecks constrain cargo flows, weaken the returns on private investment and delay the shift to lower-emission transport” says FEPORT Secretary General, Ms Lamia Kerdjoudj.
“Predictable EU funding is essential to deliver projects whose benefits cross national borders and keep the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) on track for its 2030 and 2040 deadlines. Ports and their connections also play a crucial role in energy security and the movement of military equipment and critical supplies” underlines FEPORT Secretary General
FEPORT therefore supports the joint letter’s three requests to EU leaders:
- Restore the transport envelope of the Connecting Europe Facility at least to the level proposed by the Commission.
- Ring-fence a minimum share for transport in the National and Regional Partnership Plans, so that TEN-T sections are not crowded out by short-term priorities.
- Open the European Competitiveness Fund explicitly to transport, as a complement to dedicated infrastructure funding, never a substitute for it.
The next MFF must provide a stable basis for investment in Europe’s transport networks. FEPORT urges EU leaders to ensure that the final agreement gives ports and terminal operators the infrastructure support needed to serve European industry and meet the Union’s strategic objectives.
