Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, has set a 2040 target completion date for the Porto-Vigo high-speed rail line, while confirming that no EU funding has yet been allocated to the project under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The answer, given on 29 June 2026, responds to a written question from Catarina Martins (The Left, Portugal) who had raised concerns about contradictory statements from Spanish regional officials and the potential impact of delays on cross-border mobility and decarbonisation.
Tzitzikostas clarified that under Regulation (EU) 2024/1679, the line is part of the extended core network with a 2040 deadline, not the 2032 date previously cited by some stakeholders. He noted that the EU Coordinator participates as an observer in meetings of the Alta Velocidad(e) España Portugal European Economic Interest Group (AVEP), which oversees cross-border high-speed rail cooperation between Portugal and Spain. The Commission believes timely completion by 2040 would positively affect territorial cohesion, sustainable mobility, and decarbonisation in Galicia and Norte regions.
The answer provides a concrete EU timeline but offers no new financial commitments, leaving the project dependent on future CEF calls or national funding. The Commission's monitoring role is limited to observer status in AVEP, with no indication of stronger enforcement mechanisms should delays persist. Stakeholders most impacted include cross-border commuters and businesses in the Galicia-Norte Euroregion, who face continued reliance on slower transport links; Portuguese and Spanish national authorities, who must coordinate funding and construction; and EU taxpayers, whose contributions through CEF have not yet been directed to this project. The absence of allocated EU funds and the 2040 target suggest a moderate pace of development, with potential positive effects on regional integration if the deadline is met, but risks of further postponement without dedicated financial support.