Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1332 of 9 July 2025 on the implementation of the Rail Baltica cross-border project on the North Sea – Baltic European Transport Corridor and the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea European Transport Corridor in application of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1723 (notified under document C(2025) 3944)

• CELEX: Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1332
• Articles: 7

Article 1 Subject matter

This Decision lays down the priorities, actions and in order timetable for the implementation of the cross-border project Rail Baltica (Tallinn-Pärnu-Riga-Panevėžys-Kaunas-Warszawa, with a connection to Vilnius), as well as related governance and reporting provisions.

Article 2 Priorities for the first phase

1.   During the first phase, until 31 December 2030, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland shall prioritise the construction of the sections Tallinn-Pärnu-Salaspils-Misa-Panevėžys-Kaunas-Warszawa and work to the completion of those sections. During that phase, the connection to the Rail Baltica line of Riga and Vilnius respectively shall be ensured through the existing rail network.

2.   As regards the first phase, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania may build the Rail Baltica line as a single track from Tallinn to Kaunas, provided that a double-track embankment and enough passing loops for a smooth operation are built.

3.   In parallel to the actions of the first phase referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, Lithuania may implement energy, control-command and signalling subsystem installations on the existing European railway track in the section between Poland and Kaunas.

4.   Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania may start undertaking actions from the second phase prior to the completion of the first phase, where that does not delay directly or indirectly the completion of the activities of the first phase.

Article 3 Priorities for the second phase

The Rail Baltica project shall not be considered complete before Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius and Warszawa are connected via the railway in European standard nominal track gauge of 1 435 mm built in double track on the entire route.

Article 4 Actions and timetable

1.   Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland shall ensure the implementation of the following actions for completing the first phase of the Rail Baltica project in a timely manner:

(a)

as regards the section Tallinn-Pärnu:

(i)

land acquisition shall be completed by 31 December 2026;

(ii)

the construction of the railway substructure shall begin by 31 December 2025;

(iii)

the construction of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be completed by 31 December 2028;

(b)

as regards the section Pärnu-border between Estonia and Latvia:

(i)

the design of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be completed by 31 December 2026;

(ii)

land acquisition shall be completed by 31 December 2026;

(iii)

the construction of the railway substructure shall begin and make sufficient progress by 31 December 2026;

(iv)

the construction of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be completed by 31 December 2028;

(c)

as regards the section border between Estonia and Latvia-Salaspils:

(i)

the design of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be completed by 31 December 2026;

(ii)

land acquisition shall be completed by 30 June 2027;

(iii)

the construction of the railway substructure shall begin and make sufficient progress by 31 December 2026;

(iv)

the construction of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be completed by 31 December 2029;

(d)

as regards the section Salaspils-border between Latvia and Lithuania:

(i)

the design of the railway infrastructure subsystem shall be completed by 31 December 2025;

(ii)

land acquisition shall be completed by 31 December 2026;

(iii)

the construction of the railway substructure shall begin and make sufficient progress by 31 December 2025;

(iv)

the construction of the railway infrastructure sub-system border shall be completed by mid-2029;

(e)

as regards the section border between Latvia and Lithuania-Panevėžys:

(i)

the design of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be completed by 31 December 2027;

(ii)

the construction of the railway substructure shall begin and make sufficient progress by 31 December 2027;

(iii)

the construction of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be underway by mid-2029;

(f)

as regards the section Panevėžys-Kaunas:

(i)

the construction of the railway infrastructure sub-system (railway superstructure) shall begin and make sufficient progress by 31 December 2025

(ii)

the construction of the railway substructure shall be completed by 31 December 2028;

(iii)

the railway infrastructure sub-system (railway superstructure) shall be completed by mid-2029;

(g)

as regards the section Kaunas-Warszawa (with a connection to Vilnius):

(i)

land acquisition shall be completed by 31 December 2026, except for the section between Kaunas to Vilnius;

(ii)

land acquisition shall be completed by 31 December 2027 for the section from Kaunas to Vilnius;

(iii)

the design of the railway infrastructure sub-system shall be completed by mid-2029 (including the connection to Vilnius);

(iv)

the railway infrastructure shall be completed by 31 December 2028 from the Lithuanian-Polish border to Marijampole to ensure a connection to the existing railway line consisting of the European standard nominal track gauge of 1 435 mm;

(v)

the railway infrastructure from Marijampole to Kaunas shall be completed by 31 December 2029;

(h)

as regards the section Warszawa-border between Lithuania and Poland:

(i)

the rail infrastructure upgrade works on the section Warszawa-Ełk shall be completed by 31 December 2029;

(ii)

the section Ełk-border border between Lithuania and Poland shall be completed by 31 December 2030;

(i)

as regards all sections Tallinn-Pärnu-Salaspils-Misa-Panevėžys-Kaunas-Warszawa:

(i)

the design for the electrification sub-system shall be completed by 31 December 2027;

(ii)

the design for the control command and signalling sub-system shall be completed by mid 2028;

(iii)

installation works for the electrification sub-system shall begin in the first quarter of 2027;

(iv)

the installation works for the control command and signalling sub-system shall begin in the first quarter of 2028;

(v)

the railway infrastructure shall be completed as a mix of single- and double-track railway line on double-track embankment for mixed traffic, suitable for minimum 740-m-long freight trains, electrified, in European standard nominal track gauge by 31 December 2030;

(vi)

the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) shall be deployed to achieve full interoperability, in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 3 ) , by 31 December 2030;

(vii)

dynamic testing shall begin as from 2030.

2.   The actions under the second phase of Rail Baltica project consist of the remaining actions that are necessary to ensure that the Rail Baltica line is fully compliant with Regulation (EU) 2024/1679.

Article 5 Governance and reporting

1.   The European Coordinator for the North Sea-Baltic European Transport Corridor, representatives of the Commission and nominated representatives of Poland and Finland shall be invited to participate as observers in the meetings of the Supervisory Board of RB Rail AS. RB Rail AS may also decide to invite the European Coordinator or the Commission to strategic meetings of the project partners.

2.   The Rail Baltica Task Force shall meet upon invitation of the European Coordinator for the North Sea – Baltic European Transport Corridor at least twice per year. It shall be consulted about strategic decisions for the project. The European Coordinator of the North Sea – Baltic corridor shall keep the European Coordinator of the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea informed about significant developments related to the Rail Baltica project and relevant for the two corridors.

3.   After consulting Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, RB Rail AS shall provide updated information to the European Coordinator for the North Sea – Baltic corridor in writing at least once per year about the progress in implementing the actions referred to in Article 2 and shall where relevant notify any delay encountered, specifying the reasons for the delay and indicating the corrective measures taken.

4.   If force majeure has an impact on the implementation programme and its financing, the project partners and the European Coordinator for the North Sea – Baltic corridor shall consult each other to define corrective measures.

Article 6 Repeal

Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1723 is repealed.

Article 7 Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Finland.