CER, UNIFE Signs EU Rail Investment Strategy Feb 2, 2026

CER and UNIFE Align on European Rail Investment Strategy

On 2 February 2026 in Brussels, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and The European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE) signed a joint declaration to coordinate the transformation of Europe’s railway network. The declaration establishes shared priorities for a sector that contributes an estimated €247 billion to the EU’s Gross Domestic Product and supports more than three million jobs. Key objectives include investment, innovation, and enhanced cross-border integration for a system that handles approximately eight billion passenger journeys annually.

Strategic Priorities and Funding

The declaration outlines a coordinated strategy between railway operators and the supply industry, focusing on safety, capacity growth, and cost efficiency. A central demand is for increased EU funding and political support for infrastructure modernization and research and development. This unified approach from operators and suppliers is strategically timed to influence upcoming EU budget allocations and policy frameworks by presenting a cohesive sector-wide vision.

Specific large-scale projects targeted for investment include the creation of a European high-speed rail network, the enhancement of military mobility infrastructure, and the continent-wide deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The document asserts that rail is the only transport mode capable of simultaneously meeting Europe’s objectives for emissions reduction, industrial competitiveness, territorial cohesion, and defence resilience. The sector positions itself as a critical enabler of EU climate and economic goals.

Alignment with EU Industrial Policy

The joint declaration aligns with the European Commission’s Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), which aims to increase manufacturing’s share of the EU’s GDP to 20 percent by 2035. The IAA targets strategic sectors, including net-zero technology manufacturing and the automotive supply chain, by prioritizing “Made in EU” goods in public procurement and support schemes. By presenting a unified investment and innovation agenda, the rail supply industry, represented by UNIFE, positions itself to be a primary beneficiary of this industrial policy.

The IAA framework also introduces conditions for foreign direct investments exceeding €100 million in emerging sectors to ensure they strengthen EU supply chains and promote technology transfer. This regulatory environment reinforces the declaration’s call for investment in a domestic European rail supply chain, linking rail modernization directly to the EU’s broader goals for economic security and industrial autonomy.

Next Steps

The declaration calls for deeper collaboration with European institutions, specifically the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU). This cooperation is intended to accelerate the development of harmonized standards, foster targeted innovation, and ensure effective policy implementation across member states to improve interoperability and system resilience.